My cousin Sarah and I moved up to Door County from Milwaukee in the spring to work for our friends at the Shoreline. We had both been working as massage therapists in the city and began to see that our hearts belong in a “wide open spaces” kind of environment. I began coming in to the gallery (Charlene’s Gallery in Gills Rock) all summer long for my java jolt, my internet fix and to be surround by amazing art and local characters.  Naturally I began to talk to the owners, found we had a lot in common and became fast friends. In the fall they asked me to come aboard as some extra help in the coffee shop and with that I fell head over heals for the entire package.

Separately my cousin Sarah, myself and the owners began to talk about the possibility of us running the shop and buying the property, what an amazing dream in the works!! One day I mentioned it to the owners and to both of our shock we had been discussing the same thing! Now my cousin and I are living in Door County full time. We own the coffee shop, live in the apartment in the building with hopes of owning both the shop and the gallery some day in the near future

We are currently taking a ten week business program to help us get funding and become even more educated on our new endeavor through the Door County Economic Development Center in Sturgeon Bay. We will be mentored by gallery owner Charlene over the next couple of years and we look forward to every step that our journey takes us on.

Next time you visit the High Point Inn, take a drive to Gills Rock and visit with Katie and Sarah, two of Door County’s newest entrepreneurs. The coffee shop will be open from 8AM until at least 5PM daily.

Stacy and Fred Bridenhagen are the artist/owners of the iconic Door County Water Street Gallery in Ephraim. The gallery is located two doors north of Leroy’s Coffee Shop across the street from Eagle Harbor. Open all year, the Water Street Gallery features fine art prints as well as original watercolor and oil paintings by many of Door County’s favorite artists. Their artists include Mary Uhl, Karsten Topelmann, Ellen Sprogo Topelmann, Lorna Bell Cornell as well as Fred Bridenhagen and Stacy Bridenhagen and more.

The Water Street Gallery is also one of our featured showcase vendors. Be sure to check them out when you are in Door County, but also online! And be sure to check out their newest art.

HDTV and Blu-ray in every room at Ephraim's High Point Inn

Adding yet another high point to your next visit to Door County’s High Point Inn - 37″ HDTV and Blu-ray in every suite! GM Melissa LeBelle has been getting good feedback from guests who can also enjoy the 50″ HDTV in the lounge.

“Our guests have come to expect the best in affordable luxury at the High Point Inn, so we felt the time to add HD was now. The crisp picture on the HD stations at 37″ is quite gorgeous,” stated LeBelle.

Make your reservation for a Door County getaway at the High Point Inn soon and take advantage of our winter special - 3 nights for the price of 2 - and get HDTV and Blu-ray too! Mention this special at time of reservation. Contact us info@highpointinn.com or call 920-854-9773. See you soon!

The Hammer Family, New Berlin, WI

From Jeanne Hammer, condominium owner at High Point Inn: One of our favorite family memories from 2009 was the weekend we spent in Door County for the Door County Half Marathon/ 5K run through the beautiful Peninsula State Park.    If you are just a novice runner (or a jogger like me) or a serious distance runner, this race is for you.  The scenery through the park made the course the most enjoyable 5K we have ever run.  This year we will be planning our stay at the High Point Inn, Ephraim as we did last year.  It was so convenient , the bus picked us up right from the Inn that morning and took us to the race start.  After the race there is a party in Fish Creek with entertainment, food and beverage.  Just a great weekend to kick off the spring….hope you can come!

The 2010 Door County Half Marathon is scheduled for May 1, 2010. To register click here.

Here is an idea for a gorgeous road trip for anyone who thinks winter has little to offer. Jump in your car and head to the beautiful village of Ephraim in Door County, Wisconsin. When you are just north of Sturgeon Bay take the very picturesque Hwy. 42 route to northern Door. Along the way you will pass through Carlsville home to several fine restaurants and shops. Next you will pass through the village of Egg Harbor, a great place to pull over and explore - even in winter! Call ahead to the Main Street Market and pick up a basket of luscious cheeses, fruits, and wines, perfect for your final destination.

Seven minutes out of Egg Harbor is the drive-by destination of Juddville. Though small, Juddville boasts several art galleries, a restaurant and coming soon - a chiropractic practice! As you head towards Ephraim, Fish Creek is the next scenic village and offers year round visitors  the chance to shop and eat at several distinctive restaurants. Hide Side Leather and On Deck Sportswear are open in winter and are worth a visit.

Finally. Ephraim is near. As you approach the village from the south, you pass by the outstanding golf course at Peninsula State Park on your left. Your vehicle will descend a slight hill and before you will be the beauty of Eagle Harbor, truly one of Door County’s most scenic sites. The view at night (see photo above) in winter is that of a charming historic village opening its arms to all who pass through. You will not find most businesses open during the winter months, but the village hall in the center of town features sing-a-longs on Sundays that reminds you music can be a participation sport for the masses!

Drive through Ephraim-proper and you will find yourself in North Ephraim a tree-lined drive past galleries and shops that lead you to your final destination…the High Point Inn. Unpack your car, walk through the door and you will experience for yourself why our resort boasts a high rate of return for previous guests. Our facilities and our staff will make your winter getaway to the Door peninsula one to remember.

Ready for a road trip now? Call us at 920-854-9773 or email and we will help you plan the perfect winter vacation in our quaint Door County setting.

The High Point Inn sponsored a reindeer at the annual Ephraim Village Christmas celebration last weekend

Greetings from the snowy land of Ephraim, Wisconsin! The dry, bare ground that is visible in the photo above is now covered in a beautiful white carpet of snow, ready for Door County visitors to enjoy.

Last weekend’s Christmas celebration in the village of Ephraim was a big success. The High Point Inn sponsored a reindeer for this annual event that included family-friendly activities inside the village hall, culminating in an outdoor tree lighting ceremony and Christmas carol sing-a-long.

And now that over a foot of fresh snow has been added to the outdoor scenery of northern Door County, the High Point Inn is ready to welcome visitors to a breathtaking winter wonderland! Check out our season specials and packages and spend some time at northern Door’s luxury suite resort at a very affordable price!

On Saturday, December 5 the Ephraim Business Council celebrates the holiday season with the Annual Christmas in the Village. The High Point Inn is the proud sponsor of one reindeer, so be sure to stop by and say hello! Here is the official press release:

The Ephraim Business Council invites you to celebrate the season at Ephraim’s annual Christmas in the Village event on Saturday, December 5th. With activities planned throughout the day, Christmas in the Village promises to be holiday fun for the whole family.

The most notable addition to this year’s event is a live reindeer display by Santa’s Crew of Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Two adult reindeer, one baby reindeer, two elves, Santa and his sleigh will be on hand to greet families. The display will be just outside the Ephraim Village Hall from 2:30-4:30pm. Pictures with Santa and company will be taken by Santa’s Crew staff and may be purchased on-site for $8. Attendees are permitted to take their own photos as well. Children will delight in seeing Dasher and Dancer, both 2-year-old females weighing about 300 pounds each, along with baby Comet, a 7-month old male. This holiday season, Santa’s Crew celebrates its third year touring regionally with the display, and Ephraim is excited to welcome them for the first time.

Children’s activities begin at the Ephraim Village Hall at 1pm, with Christmas themed tales from the Northern Door Storytelling Guild, sponsored by the Ephraim Library Committee’s Martha Cherry Estate Funds. A group spun off from the wintertime storytelling classes taught by Lloyd Michalsen at Ellison Bay’s Clearing Folk School, the Northern Door Storytelling Guild has entertained at venues throughout Northern Door for nearly three years.

From 2-3:30pm kids will get creative with holiday cards and crafts sponsored by the Ephraim Library Committee. All materials needed, will be supplied. Kids may also frost their favorite holiday-shaped sugar cut-outs at a cookie decorating table. There will be heritage games such as shuffleboard, pick-up sticks and tiddly winks, courtesy of the Ephraim Historical Foundation. All activities take place in the Ephraim Village Hall and are free of charge.

From 3:30-4:30pm the Ephraim Historical Foundation will host a Christmas Family Sing-A-Long (in the tradition of their Summer Sunday Sing-A-Longs) in the Ephraim Village Hall. Song leader Dave Olson and pianist Bernice Koehler will lead participants in the holiday classics.

The Ephraim Moravian Church will have its doors open from 11am-2pm to share the Advent season. Displays of crèches, lovefeast, traditional women’s dress, Christmas Eve candle-wrapping and Moravian Stars will highlight the history and tradition of Door County’s oldest church. Visitors will enjoy festive decorations and refreshments.

The Eagle Harbor Inn and Village Green Lodge, two quaint Ephraim B&Bs, will host holiday open houses from 1pm-4pm. Visitors may tour the businesses decorated for the season, and enjoy homemade holiday goodies or festive tea time treats. Eagle Harbor Inn will offer “Inn’s Favorite Recipes,” tied up with ribbon as their gift to you. Additionally, the Anderson House Shop & Gallery, will host an open house and Jewelry Trunk Show featuring affordable sterling silver jewelry, from 10am-5pm. Refreshments will be served.

The 10th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will close the day at 4:30pm. This year’s ceremony has been moved from the Wetlands Preserve to Harborside Park. Ephraim resident and volunteer firefighter, Scottie Weborg will do the honor of lighting the tree. Hot cider will be shared. In years past an unidentified Christmas Grinch has attended the event. Hopefully Mr. Grinch will decide to join us again!

The Ephraim Business Council would like to thank the following Ephraim businesses and community members for their generous donations toward Christmas in the Village. Santa Sponsor: Jane Olson. Reindeer Sponsors: Ephraim’s Library Committee and High Point Inn. Elf Sponsor: Bay Breeze Resort and Premier Properties. Jingle Bell Crew: Tad & Andy Dukehart.

For more information on the Ephraim business community and the weekend activities, please visit www.Ephraim-DoorCounty.com or contact the Ephraim Visitor Information Center at 920-854-4989. Ephraim’s temporary winter Visitor Information Center is located at 10329 Water Street (Highway 42) and is open Fridays and Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays 10am-2pm through April.

Be sure to check out the Shops at Green Gables. Establishments open in winter include:
1) American Folklore Theatre The Green Gables office does not have regular hours in winter, but there will be several holiday performances by AFT co-founder Doc Heide and long-time performer Eric Lewis. Get details of their at their website and visit their online store to purchase CDs and gift cards at their.
2) Perfect Beads A variety of wonderful beads. Open weekends November and December. Call 920-854-6472.
3) Rustic Fish Gallery The Rustic Fish Gallery is owned by Door County artists Mary Ann and Erik Rinkleff. We feature Erik’s hand-carved, collectible wood carvings and Mary Ann’s inspirational greeting card line and fine art photography. Open Friday and Saturday during November and December.
4) Door County Scrimshander Resident artist Gary Kiracofe practices scrimshaw, an art that is “two hundred years behind the times.” Visit the gallery he runs with his wife Dawn where they feature knives, jewelry, ornaments, antique ivory and more. Open Friday,  Saturday and Sunday during November and December.

McKeefry & Yeomans of Ephraim. Bruce McKeefry and Geoff Yeomans have the perfect mix of house AND garden. From French milled soaps to decorative flowers, distinctive furniture and more. On the corner of Townline Rd. and Hwy. 42 in Ephraim. Open all year. Call 920-854-4749 for hours.

The City Farmer in Ephraim - features a distinctive collection of American and English country furniture and home accents. Winter hours are 10 to 5:30 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

The Paint Box Gallery located next to Joe Jo’s Pizza just north of the High Point Inn. Featuring original art works by local, regional and national artists including a large variety of miniature works. Plus an excellent source of art supplies for the professional and the novice. Open 361 days a year, 10-4 daily.

Joe Jo’s Pizza & Gelato is open all year long 11am to 8pm and serves thin crust pizza from scratch. Their homemade Gelato gets rave reviews as well as their pizza.

Blue Dolphin House is located just south of the High Point Inn on Hwy 42. They feature contemporary artwork, gifts and home accessories from manufacturers and artists all over the world. Open in winter, but call for days and hours - 800-765-0141.

Wondering if your favorite restaurant or shop has winter hours? Contact Missy by email or by phone 800-595-6894.

High Point Inn condo owner Jeanne took these photos of the resort with fall foliage and flowers….

Are you looking for a great get-a-way for you and your family to see the beauty of God’s creation, clear your head, and enjoy some outdoor activities…Door County, WI is for you.

As a young adult my first Door County experience was camping in beautiful Penninsula State Park.  We hiked, biked, had campfires and shopped and ate in all the small towns.

In recent years our trips have changed to resort stays.  We have stayed at many different places and cities but none that compared to High Point Inn in Ephraim.  It impressed us so, that we became owners of our own condo at the resort 2 years ago.  We have celebrated everything from the end of finals (our college daughters) to birthdays and anniversaries at our “home-away-from-home”.  Our guest book, located in our condo, has so many wonderful stories of other families and friends who have found High Point to be a great place to stay.  The last entry said “We are amazed with the comfort, cleanliness and hospitality we have experienced here.  The grounds are beautiful as well”

Recently a friend asked 20 people..How are you?   18 of 20 replied..VERY BUSY…if that describes you, I encourage you to take a few days to rejuvenate in the beauty of Door County….we know you will love it!

Our favorite things to do in Door County while staying at the High Point Inn:
Buy apples and jam at Seaquist Orchards
Purchase smoked salmon at Charlies Smokehouse
Bring home some homemade candy from Uncle Toms Candy store
Eat lunch at the Cookery
Sample and buy wine…from ALL of the wineries
Go hiking and enjoy the sunsets at Peninsula and Newport State Parks