Cherry Hill Farm To Be Preserved; Township Set To Buy Land

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Holly Ravine Farm is here to stay, Cherry Hill officials said Monday. The township reached an agreement in principle to purchase and preserve the land.

Once home to the Cowtail Bar ice cream parlor and a petting zoo, Holly Ravine Farm brought beloved memories to generations of residents and visitors. The Gilmour family ultimately hoped to preserve the former dairy farm, but various obstacles pushed them to seek a buyer — even if it meant that meant a developer building on the property.

The agreement in principle, however, puts the township in a position to preserve Holly Ravine Farm as open space.

"My family appreciates the special place that Holly Ravine Farm and the Cowtail Bar hold in so many people’s childhood memories," said Robert Gilmour. "Growing up and working on the farm for most of my life, I know what a special place it is. We are thrilled that the property will be saved and remain as open space for generations to come."

The township didn't disclose dollar figures in Monday's announcement. But officials said the purchase price is consistent with the appraised value from two recent appraisals.

The agreement in principle is subject to the Township Council's approval.

Council President David Fleisher, who led negotiations for the township's purchase, said it's "a great day for Cherry Hill."

"Holly Ravine Farm has long been a cherished part of our community," said Fleisher, Cherry Hill's Democratic candidate for mayor, "and I am dedicated to protecting it and ensuring it remains open space for township residents to enjoy forever."

Efforts to preserve Holly Ravine Farm hit a pivotal juncture earlier this year, when a Texas-based developer hoped to build a senior-living complex on the land. The proposal sparked an outcry from members of the public hoping to preserve the farm. Ultimately, the Cherry Hill Zoning Board had concerns and rejected Caddis Healthcare Real Estate's application last spring.

The Gilmour family has owned the dairy farm for generations. John C. Gilmour Jr. — a dairy farmer who later became Cherry Hill's mayor — established the Cowtail Bar in 1933. Between the ice cream shop and the 1964 addition of the Moo Zoo, Holly Ravine Farm stood as a longtime family favorite in the region.

After the Cowtail Bar closed in the 1980s, the farm remained John and Eva Gilmour's home. John died in 1993. When Eva died in 2011, the family decided to try and preserve the property.

But several obstacles interfered, with the New Jersey Farm Preservation Committee and the township previously declining to preserve the land, according to Robert Gilmour, son of John and Eva.

With two preservation attempts failing, the family put the property on the market. But the township had blocked past potential sales out of concerns about adding traffic to the area.

The 23-acre property is located at the intersection of Evesham and Springdale Roads.