Nelson Woodland Natural Area a Hidden Escarpment Sanctuary on Washington Island
Unique limestone features at Nelson Woodland Natural Area. Photo by Rex Meikle
Door County Land Trust is honored to announce the protection of a remarkable 20-acre property on Washington Island, donated by Christopher Nelson, who has made Washington Island a second home for nearly four decades. The land, a secluded beech maple forest off of East Side Road, is home to quiet trails, a rolling landscape, and a one-of-a-kind amphitheater-like limestone feature.
For Nelson, who has visited Washington Island every year since 1987, the gift reflects a lifelong love for this corner of Door County. He stated, “Most important in our minds was the desire to make a remarkable parcel of land available to the general public so that more people could come to see the untouched woodlands and the beautiful geological formations.”
A Strong Connection to the Island
Nelson and his late wife first discovered Washington Island nearly forty years ago. What began as a simple getaway to a rented cabin turned into a lasting relationship with the place. “The first cabin we stayed in was an old fishing shack that smelled exactly like one,” Nelson recalled with a laugh. “We went to a local realtor to find other rental options, and by the end of that trip, we’d bought a place of our own.”
Since then, Nelson has spent between one and five months each year on the island, drawn by its quiet pace and sense of community. He still spends part of the year at his South Shore Drive home with his fiancée, Debbie Axelrod, both of whom are professors at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. The couple teaches across the college’s curriculum, guiding students through classic works of literature, philosophy, and science. Debbie, who has taught for over fifty years, is renowned for her profound love of French poetry.
To Nelson, the island feels familiar. “It reminds me of the East Coast,” he said. “The weather, the rocky shores, even the seasonality. Washington Island feels like what Cape Cod might have been like a hundred years ago.”
Photo of Chris by Debbie Nelson
Finding the Hidden Sanctuary
In the year 2000, when a 160-acre tract of undeveloped land came up for sale, divided into eight twenty-acre sections with no access roads, curiosity pulled him in. He and his late wife hiked through dense forest and uneven terrain to reach the farthest lot.
“It was a hands-and-knees hike at times,” Nelson said. “We needed to see which lot we would be most interested in.”
What they discovered hidden back on one of the farthest parcels was “an amphitheater-like limestone enclosure with 10-15 foot high boulders topped with ferns, mosses, trees, and shrubs that created a natural sanctuary, beautiful to look down upon, and wonderful to access from below by a trail alongside the looming rock walls.” The scene is unlike any other place on the island. Enchanted, they purchased the property, envisioning building a home overlooking the limestone spectacle. A place where their five children and eventually twenty-two grandchildren could visit. But over time, Nelson realized that distance and busy lives would make those reunions rare.
Instead, he began to see a different future for the land. He had decided that donating the land to Door County Land Trust would be the best way to continue enjoying and sharing the property with others. Chris finished clearing and defining a couple of paths through the totally wooded property, making the rock-walled sanctuary accessible before donating.
Stewardship and Community
When he brought friends to visit, they were awestruck. “Everyone who saw it reacted the same way,” he said. “They couldn’t believe something like that existed there.”
Last year, he introduced the property to staff from the Door County Land Trust. With Debbie, he decided to donate the land to ensure it would remain protected forever.
“We intend to continue to spend a good bit of our time at our home on the island and to volunteer our services to help maintain the trails on the donated land. We do love working on, and walking in, the woodlands,” Nelson said.
When they aren’t on the island, Nelson and Axelrod continue teaching in Annapolis, where they prepare for retirement after their decades-long careers in education.
Nelson shared how Washington Island was once his escape and place of rest, but now more than ever, he enjoys getting involved with the community. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Gathering Ground, a Washington Island nonprofit devoted to sustainable farming and food education. The organization grows produce, hosts summer workshops, and donates fresh food to local food banks throughout Door County.
Nelson has long been a huge supporter of the fine arts scene on the Peninsula, which he stated, “is as fine as I’ve seen anywhere.” He is a regular collector of art from Edgewood Orchard Gallery, Fine Line Designs, Cappaert Contemporary, Off the Wheel Pottery, Lily Bay Pottery, and Juddville Pottery, among others.
Limestone outcroppings in Nelson Woodland Natural Area in summer. Photo by Carrie Ehrfurth
Protecting a Piece of Door County’s Natural Story
For the Door County Land Trust, the Nelson property adds a vital link to the ecological fabric of Washington Island. Its mature forest, limestone outcrops, and rolling landscape provide habitat for migratory birds and mammals, while providing stunning geological visuals of the Niagara Escarpment.
Chris’s donation protects one of the island’s most unique geological features. Many will benefit from visiting this stunning property for generations to come.
The Nelson property will remain undeveloped, protected, and maintained by Door County Land Trust. It is a must-see for Washington Island locals, seasonals, or visitors. Make sure to visit in winter, Chris’s favorite time to enjoy the property.
Join the Conservation Effort
Door County Land Trust invites other landowners to explore how conservation easements and land donations can protect their land while maintaining private ownership.
Written by DCLT business member Rex Meikle of doorborn.com
