06/12/2026
“Happy trails” is an understatement!
We recently celebrated the grand opening of our new fully-accessible trail and boardwalk with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce.
More than 100 of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and staff families joined us for an incredible afternoon, including a wonderful lunch provided by The Antidote restaurant & Catering in downtown West Bend.
We were honored to hear heartfelt remarks from Toni Gumina, President of the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce, Michael Larson, Executive Director of Blue Lotus Center and Lisa Starke, Associate Director of the Blue Lotus Center.
This remarkable project has been three years in the making and was made possible through donors like you, during our 2024 Match Fundraiser.
Guests experienced the trail in an immersive way, starting at the Bliffert Gateway, the start to the path, then with Mike Marek, and staff members of Marek Landscaping, LLC stationed throughout the property to share the story behind each special location and scenic overlook. As the trail’s architect, Mike transformed a vision into reality.
Our incredible volunteers also played an essential role in bringing this project to life. They showed up time and time again even in freezing temperatures to cut boards for the boardwalk and complete last minute finishing touches before the event. Their efforts were led by our beloved groundskeeper Matthew Albrecht, whose leadership, dedication, and expertise kept the project moving forward every step of the way.
Along the trail, guests had the opportunity to visit:
Lennie’s Lookout, donated by Glenn & Kim Ivarson in honor of his father, where they could chat with Mike Marek Landscaped Design and Architect, and learn more about the trail’s design.
Fred’s Swamp View, offering a perfect place to observe the surrounding wetland habitat.
The Davis Peninsula, donated by Don and Sallie Davis, where guests enjoyed a gourmet s’mores bar beside a beautiful flagstone firepit shaped like a Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly overlooking the lake.
The Saron Sophia Wishing Stone Haven, donated by Saron Sophia - Nature based wellness, in honor of Charles Knobloch, a peaceful space where visitors could take a stone, say a prayer, set an intention, or simply let something go before tossing the stone into the water.
As guests completed their journey on the trail, our founder, Fred Bliffert welcomed them with acoustic guitar and song, creating the perfect ending to a truly memorable experience.
Talk about good for the soul.
We are deeply grateful for the incredible support we have received from all of you. Your time, talent, treasures, and most importantly your belief in our mission to make it possible for us to continue creating accessible nature experiences for everyone who visits the Blue Lotus Center.
Without your support, none of this would be possible.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the trail or were unable to attend the event, we invite you to check our website for upcoming open house dates and plan a visit.
Come experience the beauty, serenity, and accessibility of this special place for yourself.
We think you’ll be happy you did.
Stay tuned for more about our Legacy Orchard and the impact it will have on the Blue Lotus Centers ability to create fruit for future generations.
