Nearby Views

The northern part of the Door County peninsula is quieter than parts further south. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything to do. Of course we can drive south into the crowds but it is nice to enjoy the peace and quiet of northern Door County. Here are a few views located a few short miles from Cottage Glen.

Ellison Bluff Park in the Fall

Ellison Bluff Park in the Fall

Ellison Bay's Grandview in the Summer

Kayaking on Mink River

Mink River Lily

Summer Afternoon's Walk

A quick walk around Cottage Glen on a July afternoon. It is 72 and sunny... a perfect day for a stroll throughout Cottage Glen.

Prairie

Boys in Cottage Glen

In the summer, as in all of Door County, Cottage Glen blossoms into life. Residents are blessed with the arrival of children and grandchildren. The pathways and normally quiet streets are suddenly alive with children on bicycles or boys with squirt or laser guns as they refight various world wide conflicts.

The Gangsta's

Decorated "Spy" Bikes

For the past four years my grandsons and nephews have spent most or all of July with me. My grandsons live in Oregon and the older one comes to spend six weeks with me. This year my younger grandson was here for two weeks, the older one for eight weeks and my two youngest nephews were here for four weeks. This year the boys are from 7-13 years of age.

Video Games

They love their time here in Cottage Glen. I do have every video game known to mankind which does help me keep them entertained.  I try to limit game time each day to two hours and then we go out into the wonderful world of Door County and Cottage Glen.

Board Games

Lego Robot and Builder

We play board games, build Legos and fight battles with Legos or army men. Of course they also love to move to the streets and pathways to fight "real" battles. This year I got them some laser guns and we sent many hours in the Ellison Bay park as they hid behind the trees to fight win and lose their battles. One year we found 'gangsta' hats at Nelson's in Fish Creek and they spent a couple of weeks playing as 'gangstas'. Later that same year they decorated their bicycles with cardboard and rode all over as spies (or gangsta depending on the day).

Cottage Glen Indoor Pool

Ellison Bay Park Beach

Of course we go swimming regularly. We really enjoy the both pools, but we also occassionally go to the Ellison Bay beach where the boys have lots of fun playing in the surf and sand.

Renaissance Faire

American Folklore Theatre reviews

There are so many things for kids to do in Door County. The boys enjoy go-carting, miniature golfing at all four golf courses, climbing the tower, seeing performances at American Folklore Theatre, doing art projects at Hands-on-Art, playing with the animals at The Farm, fighting battles at the Renaissance Faire in June and early July, eating frozen custard at Not-Licked Yet (and looking for frogs in the stream) and choosing a new flavor at Door County Ice Cream Factory. This year we've been enjoying gelato from The Creamery in Sister Bay.

At Cave Point

Finally tall enough to drive!!

I solved the cube this summer!!

Artwork created in Cottage Glen by 12 and 13 year old boys.

This year the oldest two and I drove around Door County taking pictures and then spent the rest of their week here together creating a painting a from their pictures.

Metal Work created at Hand-On Art Studio by 12-13 year old boys. Displayed in a Cottage Glen garden.

Part of our tradition is going to Hands-On Art Studio several times. The oldest two are now able to do metal working, so they have been adding to the metal sculptures in my garden. But in general, at Hands-On, our favorite activity is doing fused glass. All of them have contributed to my growing fused glass collection.

Four fused glass projects created at Hands-On Art Studio by my boys ages 7-13 years old.

I asked my grandson, who is here with me this week by himself, what he likes about Cottage Glen. He says he loves being with his cousins and his grandmother. He also loves swimming and video games. He says that it is calming and up here and "The scenery is beautiful in Cottage Glen".

He loves it up here in Cottage Glen and can't wait to return each summer

Frog we found at the outdoor pool

Your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, step children, children of friends will find much to love and explore in Door County.

Kay

Gardens of Cottage Glen

Many of the residents of Cottage Glen enjoy personalizing their gardens. Owners of single family and duplex cottages can personalize their gardens. The landscapes of the fourplex cottages are maintained by our on-site resident caretaker.

In 2012 several of the gardens of Cottage Glen were featured in the Garden Walk of Northern Door County. Although many of these gardens are hidden away behind the residences, glimpses can be seen of our fantastic hidden gardens as you drive or walk through Cottage Glen.

These beautiful gardens inspire us as we walk by. The natural landscapes inspire a peaceful ambience into the secret gardens of Cottage Glen.

Birds of Cottage Glen

Many of our residents enjoy watching and feeding birds. It is a joy to awake the birdsongs outside our windows. With plenty of trees, bushes and our prairie, we have lots of interesting birds to enhance the views out our windows. The pictures with this post were all taken in Cottage Glen.

A Spectacular Environment

Prairie

The 3.5 acre drainfield has been restored to a natural Wisconsin prairie containing nearly two dozen species of native grasses and wildflowers.  The National Wildlife Federation has certified us as a Wildlife Habitat because the property provides the four basis habitat elements need for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young. In addition, we have recently received recognition as a Monarch WayStation.

Bluff in the Fall

Bluff in the Spring

Niagara Escarpment
Along the southern edge of Cottage Glen, there is a five (5) acre bluff (part of the Niagara Escarpment that has been protected with a perpetual conservation easement. From this preserved setting one can see the waters of Ellison Bay and Green Bay.

Water
A high volume community well serves all the homes at Cottage Glen. The system includes a well house containing a 3,600 gallon pressure tank and an underground 11,000 gallon tank reserve. The quality of water is monitored on an ongoing basis to comply with the State of Wisconsin municipal standards. 

Septic System
Cottage Glen's waste disposal system is a state-of-the-art at-grade aerobic biological system. Waste water is processed through a series of underground tanks utilizing a microbial-aeration technology that reduces the wastewater to essentially potable water before it is released to the drainfield. Every year one third of the field is allowed to rest.

Surface Coverage
The developers have chosen to construct less than 2 units per acre on the site and have determined to have an impervious surface ratio of less than 20%. The impervious surface ratio includes all buildings, roads, parking, and other improvements that restrict the absorption of water.
 

Drainage
A comprehensive drainage plan, approved by Door County, has been implemented to ensure proper surface water management. 

Recycling
A recycling center is located on the property.

Solar Electricity

In 2010 the residents voted to add a solar array to the roof of the rec center to help defray operating costs of the center. The system supplies approximately 17% of the electricity needed for operating the center. 

Habitat

We are a certified Wildlife Habitat and Monarch Butterfly WayStation.

Environmental Kudos

Wild Ones

Wild Ones of Door County presented its 2006 Award to Ellison Bay Development LLC,
developer of Cottage Glen at Ellison Bay. 

In keeping with the goal to live in harmony with the environment at Cottage Glen, several awards have been given to our community.

Wild Ones of Door County, Native Plants, Natural Landscapes group, recognized Cottage Glen in 2006 with their annual Green Award for a business that demonstrates environmental responsibility and concern. Among the features leading to this recognition are clustering of housing units allowing much of the property to remain in its natural state; minimal proportion of impervious surface; restoring the septic field acreage to native prairie; and deeding the 5.5 acres atop the Niagara escarpment to Door County for perpetual conservation. Developer Peter Reddin commented, “Developers don’t usually receive awards from environmental groups.” He was pleased to be recognized for his efforts to create a community with nominal impact on the land and surroundings. 

The award plaque is on display in the Rec Center at Cottage Glen.

Certified Wildlife Habitat

The National Wildlife Federation designated our development as a “Certified Wildlife Habitat”. Criteria include providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young.

 

Monarch WayStation

Most recently our prairie was named a Monarch Waystation based on the variety of host plants for Monarch butterflies and an abundance of flowers that provide nectar specific to this species. With declining Monarch populations in North America, Cottage Glen will serve as a magnet for this popular butterfly.

 

Preserving the character of the land and fitting in with the Ellison Bay community were essential to the developer of Cottage Glen. Today as homes are being built, owners and visitors are impressed that so much of the original topography and vegetation remain. The homes of Cottage Glen fit into their habitat with respect for the environment.