A little bit off the beaten path is one of Door County's parks called Olde Stone Quarry County Park. It's located just south of Little Harbor on Bay Shore Drive (County B) in the Town of Sevastopol. It's within ten minutes of Sturgeon Bay. This little gem underwent a major renovation back in 2005, and it became a first class boat landing with amenities that make it a great place for a variety of seasonal activities.
The name pretty much helps you find this Peninsula treasure. It's easy to spot from the water or the air since it's right next to a rather prominent vertical outcropping of dolomite bedrock, part of the large Niagara Escarpment that is so prevalent in the area. Driving north or south on County B, you really can't miss it. The park's primary use is as a boat landing. It's quite busy in spring, summer, and fall. There's a somewhat protected harbor for smaller boats and other watercraft with a shallow draft. A system of floating docks that are removed for the winter months provides ample room for three trailers at a time to get in and out of the water and tie up temporarily. Parking and restrooms make it a convenient place to embark upon an adventure out on the waters of Green Bay. Although there is no running water here, modern technology has provided for a very acceptable restroom experience, complete with ventilation system!
This park has a small pavilion, great for picnics and gatherings. A very nice feature of this place is that dogs are invited to join in the fun, as long as their owners attend to cleanup. Plastic bags are available from a free dispenser on the grounds. A bench facing the shoreline affords a spectacular view out across the water. In high season this place is a delightful sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the towns, the traffic, and the larger public beaches. Fishermen find solitude right along the shoreline. For the boaters there is a small launch fee at the park, payable on the honor system at a box adjacent to the boat ramp.
There is a small unofficial swimming beach at the south end of this park. It has a slightly rocky shoreline, so don't look for much smooth sand under your feet. It's a popular spot for scuba diving classes and practice, as shown in the accompanying photo. How's the water? Well, since it's on the Green Bay side you're likely to find slightly warmer water temperatures than on the Lake Michigan side. The air temperature is usually a bit higher here too than on the lake side. There is no lifeguard, so always swim with a buddy and be careful. It's likely safer to swim in this little area than over by the boat landing with its traffic.
On the day depicted here, a motorcycle club made a quick pit stop and enjoyed the ambience of this little park. The Green Bay Chapter of the Gold Wing Touring Association is a well-established organization that's been riding motorcycles (and trikes!) in Door County for quite some time. They call themselves the N.E.W. Riders. N.E.W. stands for North East Wisconsin, and the membership includes riders from Sturgeon Bay, Shawano, Abrams, Sobieski, Oconto, Sheboygan, Glenbeulah, New Franken, Casco, Kiel, Peshtigo, Greenleaf, Appleton, Kaukauna, Stangelville and Lake Linden, Michigan. The group holds a "Color Ride" each October to enoy the fall colors.
Olde Stone Quarry gets some winter use. Ice fishermen enjoy easy access to their "hunting grounds". The shoreline usually freezes enough that this sport can be conducted for the better part of the winter. In the photo, a lone fisherman uses a power auger to bore his hole, while his dog supervises.
Enjoy this local Door County treasure all year round!
