Horseshoe Bay Farms

After the closure of the Holstein breeding business, farming operations turned to raising dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs and chickens (Rhode Island Reds & White Leghorns).

Feed crops were grown below the bluff on 180 acres just north of the barns.

In time the farm became the largest employer in Door County, principally due to the fruit orchards it developed on the bluff. Horseshoe Bay Farms grew several varieties of apples and cherries to market through the Sturgeon Bay Fruit Growers Cooperative.

In it’s hey-day, the Farm was the largest fruit producer in the County and one of the Co-op’s major participants. The Co-op had a large supply house located where the current Horseshoe Bay Beach Club stands, and had built the large dock at Horseshoe Bay to ship fruit to locations along Green Bay where it could be distributed via rail to it’s final destination. The dock was rebuilt and is now used by the Frank E. Murphy County Park.

Cherry Camp

The fruit orchards made Door County famous and generations of teenagers worked at Horseshoe Bay Farms famous Cherry Camp. Over 100 kids from as far away as Chicago arrived at the camp each summer to pick cherries for several weeks. They were housed in the original Horseshoe Bay Golf Club Clubhouse (the dormitory) on the shore of Green Bay. Camp counselors included Green Bay Packer football players (the Cowles family sat on the Packers Board for many decades) and high school coaches from Green Bay.

The dormitory included a mess hall and a canteen – the store where you could buy pop, candy, and other treats. Bathrooms were available, but mostly the participants cleaned-up by soaping up and plunging into the Bay. Outside the dormitory were a basketball court, baseball field and swimming dock. Boxing and horseshoes were other recreational options.

Each day started with reveille and calisthetics outside. After breakfast, trucks would transport the kids up the bluff to the orchards. The participants had to pick 7.5 pails of cherries per day to cover room and board. After that, the boys could stop or work toward profit. Lunch was served at the orchard.

Quitting time came at 4:00 PM. Kids swam, played baseball or basketball, explored Horseshoe Bay Cave or just leaned against a tree with a bottle of pop. After supper, camp awards were given to the high pickers and candy bars to those who picked well. Every evening the pledge of allegiance was recited as the flag was taken down and taps were played.