High Cliff Village 1951

Did you know? 

Before High Cliff was a State Park

On the afternoon of December 29, 1953, a meeting was held with 17 local businessmen in the office of Gordon Bubolz, Appleton, WI for the purpose of organizing the High Cliff Forest Park Association. Mr. Bubolz explained to the gentlemen, that if the Wisconsin Conservation Commission (today’s WI DNR) is to approve the development of a state park in the Fox River Valley area, that a substantial amount of money would have to come from the businesses and citizens of the Valley. Armed with Articles of Incorporation that Mr. William S. Pfankuch had prepared for the participants ahead of time, they quickly formed a nominating committee establishing a non-profit board of directors. They recommended that Mr. Bubolz be the Chairman.

Shortly thereafter, with a significant amount of time put into their vision of what a state park might look like, they formulated committees and set forth an ambitious fundraising plan. By their first official meeting on January 25, 1954, at Home Mutual Insurance (now branded as Secura), each Fox Valley community had a campaign chair appointed.

The enthusiast campaign members set out to raise money by not only asking businesses to donate, but they also drove into rural areas and communities to meet with 4H groups, garden groups, churches and just stop to talk with people on the street. They dropped off collection cans and flyers at taverns and supper clubs in each community. If you are from the area, you may know these Board member surnames: Shattuck – Neenah, Stumpf – Sherwood, Kamps - Combined Locks, Bubolz - Appleton, Seifert – Appleton, Catlin - Neenah, Gillespie, Splitt, Sensenbrenner, Nelson and many others. The goal was to talk with everyone in the Fox Valley about this new, upcoming park and convince them of the value of donating – in other words - what’s in it for them.

What was the urgency?

By the mid-1950s the Western Lime and Cement Company had run its course at High Cliff. Residents of High Cliff, the company town, were leaving to find work in nearby cities. Soon the village would be a ghost town. The land was ravished in the aftermath of the mining operation. The native and natural resources were depleted. Developing a state park and natural area on the geological phenomenon known as the Niagara Escarpment and the shores of the largest lake in the Midwest, made sense.

So, then what happened?

Working closely with the Wisconsin Conservation Commission, the High Cliff Park Association raised significant amounts of money to help purchase land – inch by inch – parcel by parcel. Originally, some of the Board members were focused only on initiating a boat landing and harbor. It was soon realized by forward thinkers like Mr. Bubolz that natural areas needed to be preserved not only for wildlife, but for future generations to protect and enjoy. Land acquisition, nature trails, camping, roads and infrastructure were given high importance.

The work did not come without obstacles to overcome. Buying land is one thing, but the question of who will take care of it, while continuing to move forward with amenities for the public, and protection is another. Over time, as park visitation was being carefully monitored, it was undeniable that people craved all that the park had to offer. With so much invested into developing the park, the Park Association had a say in how quickly staffing and protection proceeded.

Of course, the marina and boat launch remained a priority for the group. They paid for the initial engineering surveys and water studies. When all of the groundwork was completed, the group gifted $125,000 to the State to get the work done. One Board member donated $50,000 seed money to get the harbor project going. That was a lot of money back then! 

Another Board member donated all of the funds for the Chief Red Bird statue, though his company. The bronze statue cast in New York was paid for by the former George Banta Paper Company. It was dedicated on June 8, 1961. High Cliff was dedicated as a Wisconsin State Park on June 27, 1964.

Land for a permanent campground, access roads, picnic spots, hiking trails, and forest plots were all part of the plan from the beginning. HCPA supported property clean-up, trail development, public education and preservation of historic sites and natural areas, and much more. From 1953 to 1970 The Park Association was there to uphold every step of their mission. Their efforts continued into 1970, after which the group was dissolved. I guess you could say that they were “the original” Friends of High Cliff!

On a side note: In 1973, John Stumpf went on to form the High Cliff Historical Society. With the help of other like-minded volunteers, he helped save the Lime Kilns and the 1856 General Store from the wrecking ball and dynamite which were scheduled to take them down for good. The Historical Society, which dissolved in the late 1990s, and later the Friends of High Cliff ran the old store as a museum. Due to the unfortunate effects of Mother Nature and circumstances, the future of both is in jeopardy. Perhaps they could use a little help?

FOHC was organized in 1997. YOU can make a difference by joining this amazing group. Make a monetary donation, become a member, or volunteer your time. For more information, visit our website: friendsofhighcliff.org

This article is printed with permission from Cynthia R Mueller, Retired High Cliff Naturalist

All Rights Reserved 2024

Ledge-ndary Scavenger Hunt

Remember the fun of a classic scavenger hunt? 

______Find an earth worm ______ Find a hickory nut

Combine that old fashion fun with a smart phone and we have an intriguing way for you and your family to explore the park. Complete 15 or more activities on the list to win. But, if you are older than nine, we know you are capable of finding more; so complete 25 or more to win!

Scavenger sheets are available at the park office. Completed sheets, cell phone captures, and items should be brought to the park office where they will be reviewed by a park staff member. Winners will be eligible for a free sticker ($4.00 value) Additional stickers can be purchased for 50% off upon completion of the hunt.

Hackberry Emperor: Photo credit Rob Zimmer

Summer Along the Ledge

By Rob Zimmer



So many beautiful and amazing natural wonders to enjoy in summer here at High Cliff State Park. From butterflies and mushrooms to early migrations, endangered bumblebees and so much more, explore the fascinating wildlife, plants and geology at High Cliff during late summer and early fall. Here are five of my highlights.

Endangered Bumblebees

Last year, federally endangered rusty-patched bumblebees were observed at High Cliff. it is important to make note that High Cliff is a location where this rare species can be found. Maintaining areas of native wildflowers, especially wild bergamot and others upon which the rusty-patched bumblebee feeds, is important and staff and volunteers have been busy planting large numbers of native plants in different areas throughout the park. Several Bumblebee Brigade trainings were also held at the park to help interested people learn to identify the many different species of bumblebees found here. A few more trainings are coming up, please visit the event calendar for information.

Summer Migrations

Believe it or not, even as summer still hangs on, fall migrations are already underway as early as the middle of July and into August. Shorebirds are among the first species to migrate, and many show up along the beaches and shorelines and break walls. You might see spotted sandpiper, solitary sandpiper, ruddy turnstone, yellowlegs and others. Be sure to check the Butterfly Pond edges also, as these birds often frequent the shorelines here, as well. By the end of August, many of the swallows will have already departed for the south. Purple martins and barn swallows, especially, leave quite early. Tree swallows may hang around for a few weeks longer. Fall warbler migration also begins by mid to late August with several species moving through even before September. At sunset during mid to late August, be at the park just before sunset, especially near the shore, and look up to see common nighthawks taking to the skies and winging south.

Katydid Chorus

One of my favorite natural wonders of summer at High Cliff is the incessant chorus of katydids after dark. Katydids are large, green grasshoppers that burst into song on warm summer nights in August. On some nights, you can hear thousands of these amazing insects in full song. The song of the katydid is a scratchy “katy-did, no she didn’t,” erupting from the treetops where these insects spend the long days of summer.

Prairie Peak

During August and September, the prairies of High Cliff are at their peak. Purple coneflowers, goldenrods, prairie dock, compass plant, cup plant, New England aster, Joe-Pye weed, boneset and many more paint the prairie with their beautiful, colorful blooms. You’ll find several prairie plantings at the park including around the visitor center, at the entrance to the Lime Kiln Trail, as well as the open grasslands along the horse trail.

Beautiful Butterflies

All those beautiful blooms attract large numbers of beautiful butterflies during the summer season. The second brood of tiger swallowtails arrive during late July and August. Giant swallowtails, as well as black swallowtails can also be seen dancing through the prairies. Monarchs, red admirals, tortoiseshells and others may also be seen. The sulfurs and whites are also plentiful. One of my favorite butterflies of High Cliff is the unique and beautiful Hackberry Emperor. These butterflies can be plentiful at times due to the large numbers of American hackberry trees found here.

Enjoy exploring High Cliff this summer!

News from the Friends of High Cliff:

We continue to fight invasive phragmites. These are the tall feather-like flower head plants that thrive in wetlands. Around Butterfly Pond, we've been funding work on eliminating phragmites and of course, buckthorn. Read more to learn what you can do to identify and control invasive phragmites.

N7630 State Park Rd

Sherwood, WI 54169

920-989-1106