Door Bluff Headlands County Park Expands

Door Bluff Headlands is known for its picturesque rocky shoreline. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

The Door County Facilities and Parks Department is pleased to announce the addition of 72.68 acres of undeveloped land to Door Bluff Headlands County Park. The newly added parcels expand Door County mainland’s most northerly park and represents a major promontory of the Niagara Escarpment, holding several habitats of ecological interest that contains hardwood forest trees approaching 100 years old. It is also home to 46 different species of birds and nearly 100 species of plants, including two State Special Concern species: Broad leaf sedge and Long spur violet.

The completion of this acquisition now makes Door Bluff Headlands the peninsula’s largest county park, bringing the park’s total area to 228 acres. The funding for this acquisition was secured by Parks Superintendent Ben Nelson through five different grant programs, the support of the Friends of Door County Parks and a temporary bridge loan from the County which will be repaid in full by October. No tax levy dollars will be used for the acquisition.

“With this property acquisition we have now protected some of the most important elements of biological diversity on the Door Peninsula. Preserving this property will not only benefit our residents and visitors on the peninsula, but also strengthen our position as conservation leaders on the Niagara Escarpment and in the Great Lakes region. This effort will impact other conservation efforts beyond the Door Peninsula,” Nelson said.

It is reputed that it was on this park’s property that the Washington Island Iroquois fought the mainland Potawatomi. The new property also houses a council ring built by renowned landscape architect and Door County Parks forefather, Jens Jensen.

“These historical resources made this property a critical national heritage and cultural location worthy of preservation in addition to its biological diversity,” Nelson added.