The Ridges Sanctuary Explained

The Ridges Sanctuary
Map:	USA Wisconsin
Location:	Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates:	45.0729°N -87.1187°W
Established:	1937
Url:	http://ridgessanctuary.org/

The Ridges Sanctuary is a 1600acres nature preserve and land trust in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. It is listed as a National Natural Landmark, Important Bird Area and Wisconsin State Natural Area.^[1] It was founded in 1937 and was the first land trust in the state.^{[2] [3]}

The sanctuary is also home to the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, which were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.^[4]

The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center opened in 2015.^[5] The 7,400-square foot facility is LEED certified,^[6] and includes displays about the preserve's karst topography, wildflowers, plants, animals and the history of the site's founding.

The sanctuary includes a small amount of the raw humus rendzina soil type, which is globally uncommon.^[7] and is also found in the Marshall's Point State Natural Area, a residential development not open to the public.^[8]

Orchid project

Although the sanctuary is home to wild orchids, it also operates an orchid restoration project to cultivate and introduce rare orchids into otherwise natural plant communities.^[9] 25 native orchid species are currently kept at the Ridges.^[10] A 1998 survey of wild, native orchids was carried out in response to continued theft of the sanctuary orchids. 28 species were identified.^[11]

Climate

See also

• Jens Jensen
• Emma Toft

External links

• The Ridges Sanctuary
• Trail Map
• Baileys Harbor Ridges Park Beach description in Door County Outdoors: A Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, Paddling, Beaches, and Natural Places by Magill Weber, Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 2011, page 115
• Baileys Harbor Ridges County Park, Door County Facilities and Parks Department
• Ridges Sanctuary Group Organized, Door County Advocate, October 22, 1937
• Ridges Road: A History with Leean Despotes by the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, Sevestopol TV, June 18, 2015
• The Ridges Sanctuary with Steve Leonard by the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, Sevestopol TV, August 21, 2012

Notes and References

1. Web site: Our Story. The Ridges Sanctuary. 2022-05-16.
2. https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/schmeeckle/Documents/Consulting/Ridges_plan.pdf The Ridges Sanctuary Interpretive Master Plan, February 2013.
3. Web site: Clark. Brian E.. Weekend Getaway: Door County’s Ridges Sanctuary a special boreal habitat. 2021-02-11. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. en-US.
4. https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2017/07/11/preserving-baileys-harbor-range-lights/468373001/ Preserving Baileys Harbor range lights
5. Web site: Ridges Sanctuary's new Nature Center opens Saturday. Green Bay Press-Gazette. 8 September 2016. June 13, 2015.
6. Web site: Cook-Albert Fuller Center is Full of Green Features. Door County Pulse. 8 September 2016. July 30, 2015.
7. https://doorcountypulse.com/door-nature-trailing-arbutus/ Door to Nature: Trailing Arbutus
8. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CZIC-qh76-5-w6-t36-1980/html/CZIC-qh76-5-w6-t36-1980.htm Natural Area Inventory, Wisconsin's Great Lakes Coast
9. https://doorcountypulse.com/orchid-restoration-work-ridges/ Orchid Restoration Work at The Ridges By Door County Pulse, Peninsula Pulse, January 20, 2017
10. News: Jones. Meg. Rare native orchids in Door County get a helping hand. January 22, 2019. Jsonline. September 17, 2013.
11. News: Knudson. Kip. An Orchid Survey of the Ridges Sanctuary, Selbyana 26(1/2), 1/2, Proceedings of the Second International Orchid Conservation Congress, pages 46–48. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Inc.. 2005. 41760172.