The Leelanau Conservancy purchased this historic farmstead with nearly a mile of frontage on Cedar Lake in May, 2006. The 145-acre Louis DeYoung farm is just minutes from Traverse City, with frontage on both sides of Cherry Bend Road. Although the Conservancy officially owns this land, it is actively fundraising to pay off loans on this $2 million project.

The TART trail runs through a portion of the land on the lake side. Plans for the ultimate use of the property are still in the works, but current owners and the Leelanau Conservancy envision it free of development and a place where the public can come to recreate, enjoy nature and possibly learn about community supported agriculture. There is a quarter-mile trail that winds through mature cedars near the shore of Cedar Lake. It leads down to a fishing and wildlife observation pier on the lake.

The 145 acres sits in the middle of a rapidly developing residential area. “The DeYoung family turned away many offers from developers and sacrificed financially by offering this property to the Conservancy because they care tremendously about seeing it remain as it is today,” said Matt Heiman, a land protection specialist with the Leelanau Conservancy who has worked with the family for the last 4 years. “Under some scenarios, the property could have supported as many as 100 homes.” From the property’s highest vantage points there are views of west and east Grand Traverse Bay.

The project is one of the largest the Conservancy has taken on. “This is the biggest inland lake project for us to date,” said Heiman. “With nearly a mile of shoreline on Cedar Lake, we’ll be protecting nearly half of the west side of the lake.” Much of the shore contains wetlands critical to the health of Cedar Lake, he adds. Portions of the upland are currently being farmed by a neighbor.

The land became available when Louis DeYoung, Sr. passed away last year at the age of 104. His son, Ted, says it was his father’s dream to see the land forever preserved. They began exploring options with the Conservancy late in 2003.

“This is a tremendous project that will touch the lives of people from both Leelanau and Grand Traverse County,” said Heiman. “Thousands of people bike through this area now. We are in the process of formulating plans and working with other interested groups.”

The farm has a rich agricultural history. The aging mustard colored farmhouse along Cherrybend Road is where Louis and his wife, Esther, raised two children and, early on, tended a dairy cattle herd. After morning milking, Louis herded the cows to pasture, sometimes leading them over railroad tracks to graze on the shores of Cedar Lake. Louis drove his milk into Maxbauer’s Creamery on Traverse City’s West Front in a one-seat Ford pickup. The DeYoungs weathered the Depression, nearly losing their farm. Louis was the first in the area to bring electricity into their home. He rigged up car generator, a couple of 6-volt light bulbs and hooked it all up to a water wheel on a stream that ran beneath his workshop.

After the Depression, the DeYoungs were also the first of their neighbors to give up farming with horses for tractors. Soon after they gambled on cherries, planting 8 acres, and enjoyed an extended period of profitability—one that put both his children through college. Today, Ted is a retired aerospace engineer now living in California and daughter Pat is a retired physician living in Oregon. At the time of Louis’ death, they co-owned the farm with their father.

To make a donation to the DeYoung Natural Area Fund, click here.