Just south of the Mason Dixon Line, and roughly 9 minutes away from Pennsylvania’s Waynesboro and off of Maryland’s Smithsburg Pike, sits an old apple cider press. Rustic and solitary, the place surely hasn’t seen an apple pressing for many years, but it doesn’t have to—it’s been imbued with new life.

Now, I wouldn’t have known its old life from a farm on the side of the road. The place looks downright homey—right down to the bathroom outside and the lot full to the brim with parked cars. Me being a city boy, I even expected to see a bunch of faces looking strangely at me as I walk around with my camera.

I couldn’t be more wrong.

You see, this small apple cider press brainchild of Doug Stanley, the home of a local bluegrass and country music gathering, every week on Saturday evenings. For three dollars at the door one can go in, grab a steamer (or soup or chips or iced tea—whatever they set up), take a seat, and watch some of the best local performers strum, pick, and croon out classics.

If you’re good enough you could even join the performers up front—not that I’m not good enough. I just sat down, enjoyed the warmth of the audience, kicked up my feet on a sofa, and enjoyed the evening out.

Make sure to come out early. The picking starts off at 6:00 but the parking lot is usually full by 5:30. Update: It’s located in Smithsburg, MD, right past the Water Treatment Plant on Crystal Falls Drive. Here’s the Google Maps link.

Here are some pictures and videos.