The Early Days
In the early part of the 20th century, Crystal Highland Orchards was established by a prominent Chicago physician, Dr. William Gleason Willard, who summered on the north shore of Crystal Lake. Five years after graduating from Michigan State College with a Horticulture degree, his son, William Dayton Willard, became the owner of the property. Dayton, his wife, LeOra Keatts Willard and their daughter, Carolyn, built/lived in the last house on Highland Drive on the left as you descend to Crystal Drive. Dayton first became known for his “Turkey Ranch” – Willard’s DeLuxe – “Flavorsome TOP-NOTCH Brand” – Those Better Turkeys, Juicy, Tender, Full Meated. He dressed up and drove his white turkeys to large hotels in Chicago for their restaurants. During this period, Dayton had planted a large Cherry and Apple orchard. It took a number of years for these trees to grow into full production. When the trees had matured enough to bring the cherries and apples to local markets, Dayton ceased his Fancy Packed White Turkey business. The orchards and surrounding land consisted of 500 acres bordering on two locations on Crystal Lake, a large stretch on the north side of Long Lake, and touching Rush Lake. This included the beach at the bottom of Highland Drive, stretching north to Long Lake and east to Rogers Road. In his later years, Dayton was well known for his large and beautiful “Dayton’s Dazzling Dahlias.” He conducted tours in the summer and took orders to ship dahlia bulbs. Dayton Willard sold the property, excluding his home to Marj and Jack French, Jim, and Eileen Kelly. The Kellys and Frenchs then purchased the Spring Valley Beach property from Chet Cutler, who lived on the (then double) lot where the Kellys now reside. They formed a corporation, Crystal Highlands Orchards, Inc., which intends to continue farming while keeping an eye towards future development.
In 1971 they hired the just-married Roland Koenig, who came from New Jersey with his bride, Susan, to manage the property under the tutelage of Dayton Willard. Those were the “pioneer days” when only a two-track trail connected the east and west portions of the property, and there were NO neighbors, except for the same deer, raccoons, and porcupines whose progeny have carried on to the present.
The Koenigs lived in the original farmhouse on the property at the top of Highland Drive near the current big barn. The following summer, Mexican fruit pickers occupied a small trailer near the quonset which housed the heavy equipment In the former classic old red barn, the Koenigs raised chickens, ducks, pigs, two goats and a horse named Ginger. For a while, Susan’s brother “Uncle Teddy” Goodwin (“Ted’s Live Bait and Tackle”) lived in the trailer, plowing and rescuing the few residents (Isherwoods, Minards and Pynes), martini in hand, throughout the harsh winters of 1972-74. Frenches and Kellys then built 2.5 miles of roads throughout the property, including Highland Drive, Spring Valley Road and White Birch Trail. They originally platted 61 lots and built a water system to service the eastern section of the community. Subsequently, they built Orchard Lane and platted eleven lots on Summit Place and Sleeping Bear View. The 72 lots of the Crystal Highlands were then complete.
The Association Begins, and Development Continues
Crystal Highlands Owners’ Association (CHOA) was formed on July 15, 1975 to oversee the real property interests of Crystal Highlands and to promote social and recreational activities that would enhance the welfare of the group. About the same time, the Kellys and Frenches deeded the Crystal Lake beach frontage to the association. The Frenches and Kellys continued to make changes and improvements in the Crystal Highlands Orchards property. In 1979 they sold 27 acres in the area of Long Lake to a group of developers who created the Long Lake Heights Plat of 17 lots.
In 1986, CHOA leased 150 acres of land that was eventually donated by the corporation in 1993 for recreational use subject to a conservation easement. This land included the recreation area on Highland Drive where the tennis court is located, and the 300 feet of beach on Long Lake accessed from the turnaround on Orchard Lane. Not long afterward, CHOA deeded a conservation easement to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a portion of that acreage, including what is known as “The Bowl” for creating a “natural state in perpetuity”. This parcel is located below the lots on the ridge of Sleeping Bear View.
In 1998, Eileen Kelly purchased 40 acres on the south side of Highland Drive near the recreation area and platted 21 lots. Crystal View Commons and Jack’s Way are the access roads/paths to this development. This area is known as “The Preserve” and like the Long Lake Heights development, is not part of the Crystal Highlands Owners Association.
In 2002, the CHOA voted to purchase a 40-acre parcel, which is situated northeast of Highland Drive across from the Recreation Area, from Jim Kelly. The land, now known as the “The North 40,” will be used as a permanent Natural Preserve and Conservancy with a network of walking trails throughout.
Throughout a long history, the CHOA community remains dedicated to neighborliness, maintaining the beauty of our surroundings, and enhancing the well being of all residents.
About the “Farm”
Kellys continued to operate the “Farm” with the big barn at the corner of Highland Drive and Orchard Way. For a number of years, they housed and grazed Belted Galloway cows that we all came to love. Some of us referred to them as “oreo cookie cows” because of their distinctive markings. With Jim Kelly’s failing health and the retirement of the farm property manager, Al Cline, the cows were retired as well. Today, the farm is under the management and ownership of Dan Kelly and has been renamed “Love Farm”. Dan general plan is to keep the land as wild as possible and perhaps re-establish low impact agricultural operations, maybe with greenhouses for year round organic vegetables and greens. He is also considering how the farm might become a resource for education about the environment, health and the arts. For more information, you can visit www.love.farm.
“The History of Crystal Highlands,” Presented by Anne Rogers, Feb 2026 – Video Replay