Spikehorn’s Land Blooms Anew for July Conservation Walk

Clare County Conservation

5000 E Gladwin Road
Harrison, MI 48625

By MEGAN BARRON

Cleaver Guest Writer

HARRISON – The whirlwind of daily life often frays our bond with nature, but the Clare County Conservation District has been diligently at work to help restore that harmony. CCCD Administrator Christiane Rathke and former Clare and Gladwin County District Forester Joe Nash made an invaluable discovery that is paving the way for an immersive educational and demonstration center for the community.

Upon assuming her role as district administrator, Rathke, along with Nash, uncovered an expired lease agreement with the county for a 12.7-acre parcel of land that the CCCD had historically leased for several decades.

“Joe went and located the parcel, and we were like why are we not doing something with this?” Rathke said. “Because it’s just a beautiful section – it’s primed for precisely what we want to do with it.”

Woven into this priceless discovery by Rathke and Nash is the storied past of the 12.7-acre parcel, originally deeded by John E. “Spikehorn” Meyer from his 80-acre Bear Den. His legendary mid-19^th century roadside attraction drew thousands to Harrison each year with tame bears and clever watermelon traps. Spikehorn’s showman flair, rooted in a passion for wildlife, set the stage for the CCCD’s mission to nurture nature’s legacy through walks and workshops.

“He deeded it to the county on Oct. 13, 1950 – it's a fascinating piece of history," Rathke said, emphasizing the remarkable link to the local Clare County legend. “The county appears to have used the area as a staging site for asphalt during the construction of Highway 61. Following this, it remained unused from what we can tell. The exact start date of the conservation district’s lease is unknown, but there were no significant activities conducted on the property historically, aside from possibly planting a few pine trees from tree sales. Upon inquiring about purchasing the land, the county offered a 99-year lease agreement for $1, which we accepted.”

Located at 5000 E Gladwin Road in Harrison, the CCCD has completed the initial infrastructure work of putting in a driveway and parking area, nature trails, wooden perimeter fencing, beautifully handcrafted stone benches, a permaculture orchard, and making the property identifiable to patrons via new signage. The CCCD was awarded a grant in the amount of $8,000 from the Clare County Community Foundation for this initial infrastructure work. The Clare County Community Foundation exists to cultivate the power of giving within the community, support long-term transformation, and help ensure all residents thrive. Rathke shared the importance placed upon keeping all work from any grants awarded to the CCCD local, and credits Wes Kenny, a local contractor with All Seasons Hardscaping & Excavating LLC, for his invaluable contributions to the infrastructure project.

“I wanted a parking lot with enough room for a bus to be able to come in and leave, and a pavilion, as we do a lot of work with the CTE kids,” Rathke said, noting the importance of access for everyone in the community. “We’re building the gardens for all ages. Anything from the preschoolers doing a half-day field visit, to hosting the Red Hat Society coming in to learn about wildflowers – a true community place. Once we live there, I would love to have it open during business hours where community members could come check in and maybe spend their lunch time walking around back there – we have a vernal pool, the pollinator gardens – it’s just fabulous.”

Rathke and her team are currently in the process of completing their wildflower project and installing a water well. The CCCD was recently awarded the Wildflower Association of Michigan grant, an educational grant in the amount of $1,241 to plant wildflowers throughout the entire property.

Rathke is currently preparing proposals for additional grant opportunities to obtain funding that will further the CCCD’s vision for the community and immersive education center. That vision includes a steel building which will provide office space for the relocation of the CCCD headquarters, an area for their tree sales, a meeting and education room, and an attached pavilion for outdoor education.

“One grant turned into another grant, and right now we’re sitting on waiting as little as $20,000, and one grant could be as much as $225,000 –so, it’s very exciting waiting for these emails to come in to see where we can go next,” Rathke said, her passion for this project shining through. "My current role at the conservation district represents a second career for me. With nearly 20 years of experience in early childhood education, this property allows me to integrate my two passions: children and conservation. My long-term goal is to host summer day camps focused on conservation forestry for children, which I believe would be both enjoyable and educational. The philosophies of nature and forest schooling are increasingly popular due to their emphasis on natural playgrounds that replace synthetic equipment with natural materials. This approach encourages children to interact directly with the environment, experiencing elements such as soil, wood, flowers and other natural resources. This property exemplifies what can be considered a genuine natural playground."

Rathke noted the immediate allure of the property the first time she stepped foot onto it, being completely captivated by its natural vernal pool, a centennial red oak tree, and a solid acre of wildflowers comprised of natural, wild bergamot and goldenrod. The CCCD is beyond eager to share this hidden treasure with the community.

The community is invited to explore the rejuvenated property for the first time on the evening of July 15. The event will feature a nature identification hike led by CCCD's newly appointed forester Michael “Mike” Dittenber, in collaboration with Rathke. Registration will not be required, and individuals of all ages are welcome to attend.

Just as Spikehorn’s Bear Den packed U.S. 27 with curious travelers, the conservation district’s new home – a parcel of his original 80 acres – aims to draw families to come learn about conservation and local wildlife, fostering a love for Clare County’s forests. So come tread where Spikehorn’s bears one roamed, enjoy a historical gem, and learn about conservation. For details on the July 15 nature I.D. hike, future events or volunteer opportunities, visit the CCCD’s website: www.clarecd.org. Inquiries may be directed to Christiane Rathke at christiane.rathke@macd.org.

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