CROOKED RIVER NATIONAL GRASSLANDS — Tucked into the rolling hills near Gray Butte, north of Terrebonne, stand 25 apple trees that have been quietly growing since the early 1900s. This fall, a new interpretive sign finally tells the public who planted them — and why they matter.
The Heritage Apple Corps recently installed historical signage at the Cyrus Orchard, a 48-acre homestead site on the Crooked River National Grasslands that has been recognized as an Oregon Historic Site since 2015. The signs tell the story of the Cyrus family and the community volunteers working to preserve the orchard for future generations.
The Cyrus Family Story
Enoch and Mary Cyrus homesteaded the land on the northern slope of Gray Butte in 1883 — among the earliest settler families to put down roots in what would become Jefferson County. By 1899, their son Omer was the sole remaining family member on the land. He established the orchard and worked it until 1934, when the federal Resettlement Administration purchased the property and it passed into public ownership as part of the national grasslands.
Today, 25 apple trees survive across eight varieties, along with several pear trees — living remnants of a homesteading era that shaped Central Oregon's agricultural character. The Bowman Museum and local historian Steve Lent contributed research to help tell the Cyrus family's story on the new signs.
Heritage Apple Corps Steps Up
The signage project is the latest work from the Heritage Apple Corps, a volunteer-driven organization founded by CJ Johnson in 2014 after she began caring for century-old trees on her own property near the grasslands.
"I love all apple orchards," Johnson said. "Especially these because of the history."
The group — now sponsored by Discover Your Northwest and merged with the School of Ranch in 2025 — has grown to six paid staff members focused on heritage tree preservation across Central Oregon. Their work at Cyrus Orchard includes pruning, wildfire mitigation, variety identification, and community education.
"Part of what we do is try to share the history of these places and share that with the community to help people know more about the history of the places where they recreate," said Peter Loverso, who began leading the organization in February.
The new signs at Cyrus Orchard — as well as nearby McCoin Orchard — were funded through a donation from private donor Nora Scott and the Pacific Northwest Forest Service Association.
How to Visit
The Cyrus Orchard is located in the Crooked River National Grasslands and is open to the public for non-motorized recreation. Visitors can find it via the grasslands trail network north of Terrebonne. For more information or to get involved with volunteer work parties, contact the Crooked River National Grasslands office at (541) 416-6640 or follow Heritage Apple Corps on social media.