Maple Weekend Information

Open House at Golden Maple Shanty

Plan to visit us for Maple Weekend this year on Saturday, March 27

Past Maple Weekend photos have been posted on our blog.

Held the last Saturday in March

The day starts early. The sun is just peeking over the Adirondack Mountain tops as we begin collecting sap from our maple trees. The fresh, cold sap is delivered to our maple shanty where it is stored in our 500 gallon stainless steel storage tank.

Soon it will be boiled to remove excess water until it becomes golden, aromatic New York State maple syrup. We keep our sap cold to produce the top quality, full-flavored, and prize-winning maple syrup that our Golden Maple Shanty customers have come to expect.

Periodically throughout the day, carts pulled by tractors, horses or oxen arrive bringing more maple sap fresh from our neighboring maple trees.

As one approaches our maple shanty, steam is rising from the roof vents carrying a little of the sweet fragrence of maple sap being processed into maple syrup.

When you arrive, you will notice the beautiful view of the Western slopes of the Adirondack Mountains along with our newly constructed maple processing facility.

The bustling activity of the maple process greets you as you open the door and enter the maple shanty. Once inside the door, you will smell the full aroma of boiling maple sap on its way towards becoming maple syrup. The sweet smell will "stick" in your memory!

After taking a few breaths to enjoy the aroma, your eyes catch the gleaming stainless steel processing equipment. The gleaming white walls surrounding the processing room are evidence of our emphasis on quality control and excellence in maple production.

As you get closer to view the steaming evaporator, you will notice the golden bubbling and foaming action as water is evaporated from the sap. If you listen closely, you will hear the hiss of the oil-fired burners that power the maple syrup production process.

Usually, our visitors give in to their curiosity by asking questions that are answered in a friendly way by the owners Marvin & Nancy Widrick and their family. You will find Marvin at the evaporator and Nancy tending the store, waiting on customers, and answering questions about using maple syrup in cooking.

Once the sap has reached its correct density, our automatic draw-off system clicks on and removes the newly finished and steaming hot maple syrup. Immediately, the maple syrup is put through a filter press where it emerges as a clear, golden and sparkling maple syrup.

We keep our maple syrup fresh in either stainless steel barrels or put it into various decorative containers for our customers to take home with them.

We make maple syrup, maple products, coffee, and maple recipes freely available for sampling in our shanty store throughout the day. Jack Wax or Wax on Snow is an old-time favorite that we make for our visitors to enjoy. Other activities include tree taping, sap collecting, and horse or ox drawn sap deliveries. We make maple syrup and maple products available for your purchasing convenience.

Probably the most enjoyable activity of your visit willl be the conversation that takes place between the maple producer and visitor and the friendships you will form with other visitors. It’s a place where old friends meet to catch up, where old and young have common ground to discuss, and where new friends are made. Over all it’s a warm and friendly event and a educational place to bring the family on a March weekend. Young and old, we invite you to come for an enjoyable time.