Meet Our Honey Supplier: Pekin Pond Honey Farm in Ilion, NY

If you’ve stayed with us since fall 2023 and had breakfast on the inn’s table, you’ve tasted Pekin Pond honey. It’s drizzled over fresh fruit, swirled into yogurt, available as a topping for the morning’s waffles. We thought you might like to know where it comes from — a small Mohawk Valley apiary just ten minutes from the inn.

A small family apiary, just down the road

Pekin Pond Honey Farm sits at 100 Brewer Road in Ilion, NY — about ten minutes south of Grand Colonial. Run by Eric Mussmacher and family, the farm started as a hobby in spring 2017 and has grown into a real local-business presence in the Mohawk Valley, with a walk-in roadside shop that’s open 24/7 for self-serve honey runs.

The farm name comes from the family’s Pekin (PEE-kin) ducks and the pond on the property, plus the surrounding Herkimer County farmland.

What they make (and what we use)

The core product is raw, strained honey — raw and strained only for the large bits, but unfiltered, so it keeps the pollen granules intact. That’s a real selling point for guests with seasonal allergies; locally-sourced raw honey with intact pollen is the traditional folk-remedy approach to building tolerance for local allergens. Beyond plain raw honey, Pekin Pond produces:

• Comb honey
• Creamed honey in plain, chocolate, cinnamon, and raspberry/lemon
• Chili pepper infused honey (for the adventurous)
• Beeswax lip balms, candles, and crafters’ bars
• Farm-fresh eggs and seasonal produce — herbs, veggies, sweet corn, garlic, and whatever else is in season

The farm uses non-GMO heirloom seeds and skips chemical fertilizers — composting garden scraps and using chicken manure instead. It’s the kind of small-batch, low-input operation you don’t find at scale.

Specials worth knowing about

Pekin Pond runs holiday-themed specials throughout the season — Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and one that’s especially fun for families: dressed-up kids on Halloween get a free package of honey straws.

Visit Pekin Pond Honey Farm

If you’d like to bring some home after your stay at Grand Colonial, the roadside stand is a quick stop on the way out of town. They don’t have a website, but they’re active on Facebook and the stand is always open.

• Address: 100 Brewer Road, Ilion, NY 13357
• Hours: 24/7 (self-serve roadside stand)
• Phone: (315) 360-0577
• Facebook: Pekin Pond Honey Farm

On the breakfast table at Grand Colonial

We’ve been sourcing Pekin Pond honey since September 2023 to pair with our made-to-order breakfast — and it’s one of those simple things that makes breakfast at a real inn feel different from a chain hotel buffet. Local honey from a family apiary ten minutes down the road, with intact pollen for the allergy-conscious. Exactly the kind of small Mohawk Valley producer we love supporting.

If you’ve never stayed with us, our about your stay page covers what to expect. Book direct and breakfast (with Pekin Pond honey on the table) is included.