Episode 11: Bayfield County Wild Talks with Fred Erickson of Erickson's Orchard
On this episode of Bayfield County Wild, Co-hosts Nancy Christopher and Mary Motiff, director of Bayfield County Tourism, speak with Fred Erickson, the third generation owner of Erickson’s Orchard, one of the area’s oldest and largest apple orchards and berry farms. They discuss the history of Fred’s family business and the upcoming Strawberry Festival, as well as other fun events happening throughout the month of July.
Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway
It’s a spectacular time of year to enjoy the outdoors in Bayfield County! One of the best ways to explore the area is to drive the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway, a 70-mile stretch of State Highway 13 that goes up and around the Bayfield peninsula. But don’t just assume you’re getting the whole experience from the road alone: What’s truly magical is the natural, cultural, geographical and historical beauty surrounding it. There are kiosks within each community along the byway, which provide maps, guides and other information so take your time, pull over and explore! More at lakesuperiorbyway.org.
Experience Bayfield Culture
There are many ways to experience the history and culture of Bayfield County during the summer, including:
The reservation of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is located three miles north of Bayfield. Experiencing the serenity of Frog Bay Tribal National Park, the lakefront campgrounds and the fun to be had at Legendary Waters Resort and Casino are all recommended. The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is open daily and has interactive exhibits, an observation tower, movie theater, historical archives, gift shop and more. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is truly a sight to behold. The National Lakeshore is home to the largest collection of lighthouses in North America, and there are tours and cruises available to give you incredible views. The visitor center at the Park headquarters (located in a beautiful old brownstone building) also shows a great documentary about the islands, and offers other resources and interpretive opportunities. A new visitor center is currently being built at Little Sand Bay. A huge part of the history and culture of Bayfield County can be experienced at Big Top Chautauqua, a legendary music and performance venue. Their house shows are based on the history and culture of the area, telling a story and entertaining attendees with songs and visuals. This is all above and beyond their vast concert lineup every summer, attracting some of the biggest names in music! Erickson’s Orchard
Fred Erickson’s grandparents, Martin and Christine, planted their first apple tree around the turn of the century (circa 1910). In 1954, Fred’s parents Jim and Muriel took over the orchard, with Muriel crafting her renowned apple cider donuts. Today, Fred and his family have about 15 different apple varieties on the oldest and largest apple and berry farm in Bayfield County, as well as plums, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. They also have a couple of shops on premises, plus they make about 14,000 gallons of apple cider per year through their processing plant! Homemade jams, jellies and their new hard cider are also available.
USA Today has named the Bayfield Apple Festival one of the 10 best fall harvest fests in the country. Fred’s dad Jim had come up with the idea for the festival, which launched in 1963, due to a flat tire. While broken down in Duluth on the way to North Dakota, people gathered around to try Jim’s apples and they couldn’t believe they were grown in Bayfield. So instead of bringing apples out of town, Jim had the thought of putting on a festival to attract people to Bayfield. Now, the festival brings over 60,000 people to Bayfield and it’s truly a community-wide event.
The Strawberry Festival dates back to 1936 but had not been a consistent annual event. About two years ago, Fred brought the fest back to coincide with the peak of the year’s berry crop. The festival takes place July 6, 7 and 8 this year, and features specialty food items, vendors, artisans, live music and anything that has to do with strawberries.
For more information, visit EricksonOrchard.com or follow them on Facebook.
July Events
There is so much to do in Bayfield County during the dog days of summer!
July 2 – 6: Bayfield is a world-class sailing destination and no time is that more apparent than during Bayfield Race Week at Wayzata Yacht Club. So take in an international sailing race on the south shore of Lake Superior!
July 4: There’s plenty of fun to be had on our nation’s birthday, so visit travelbayfieldcounty.com and click Seasonal Fun for a list of all the various fireworks displays and other gatherings during the Fourth of July.
July 6 – 8: The 40th Annual Red Cliff Traditional Pow-Wow features traditional drums, singing and dances, as well as delicious food, craft vendors, games...