Visitors stroll the grounds of the historic property at the Franklin Cider Mill in Bloomfield Hills, sipping cider, munching on doughnuts, caramel apples, specialty foods and artisan baked goods.

It’s the sweet aromas drifting through the cider mills, orchards, and kitchens this time of year that lure people here for their fix of fall flavors. And to get a glimpse of how the award-winning cider is made.

Underneath the main building, the giant water wheel rotates rhythmically, churned by the current of the Franklin River. The wheel once powered the 90-ton apple press upstairs, and when in use today, extracts 150 gallons of cider out of 5,000 apples.

On a recent visit, I made my way to the Apple Shack to find shelves lined with bags of different kinds of apples. I spoke with outdoor ma

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