Northwoods Retreat and Llaughing Llama Farm
Northwood's Retreat is a sportsmen's club in Chicago made up of about 55 people from all walks of life - police officers, firefighters, contractors, printers, to name just a few - who share a love for the outdoors. It is a not-for-profit corporation. Among its activities, the club raises pheasants, selling them to different hunting clubs throughout the Midwest. The club also is associated with Wings over Wisconsin; a local sportsman's organization dedicated to conservation and the preservation of bird habitats. Northwood's also owns a lake house for fishing enthusiasts on Castle Rock Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin that maybe rented for a weekend or by the week.
Northwood's Retreat used to own property on Round Lake near Hayward for members to use. There wasn't enough usage to justify the expense of maintaining the property so the members decided to sell the property and search for a place a little bit closer to Chicago.
Ray Lunsford suggested that the club purchase a farm instead of a piece of hunting land, reasoning that a farm would generate income for the club as well as serve as a hunting retreat.
At first he searched in the Wisconsin Rapids area, and he discovered he wouldn't be able to find what the club was looking for in the area so he was advised to try Crawford County, where the land prices were lower, the hunting was ideal and the scenery was beautiful.
Ray looked for a year and a half, in 1996 the club purchased the original farm that adjoins the site of what was then the Llaughling Llama Bed & Breakfast. Seeking to expand its facilities and with additional monies made from the sale of the rest of the Hayward property in 2001, the club approached the owners of the Bed & Breakfast to inquire about leasing some of their wooded property for hunting.
They weren't interested in leasing their property, but they would be interested in selling the Llama farm. So Northwood's Retreat brought the Llama Bed & Breakfast Resort and the club members continue to use the property for hunting excursions, but with the additional purchase meant they could now add an income-generating business to the property.
On weekends you will find various club members coming to the farm helping make further improvements to the property. An example, an old wire fence was recently replaced with an attractive wood fence, and much of the dead trees and foliage have been cleared away. Other plans include landscaping around the cabin areas, and converting the house into another available cabin and hunting lodge.
LLaughing LLama Farm & Country Cabins Northwoods Retreat
15859 Dry Hollow Road 15492 Highway 61 South
Boscobel, Wisconsin 53805 Boscobel, Wisconsin 53805
Please call or email us for more information and to make reservations at
PHONE: (608) 375-5774 or (608) 375-4623
EMAIL: llama@mhtc.net
Farm Manager Ray Lundsford