Holly Ravine Farm Purchased By Cherry Hill, Will Be Preserved As Open Space

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill closed Monday on the purchase of Holly Ravine Farm, ensuring that the land will be preserved as open space.

The township purchased the 23-acre property for $3,859,000 and is applying for grants from state and county open-space-preservation programs to help fund the purchase. The purchase price was consistent with recent, independent third-party appraisals, according to the township.

Once the site of a dairy farm and the Cowtail Bar ice cream parlor, Holly Ravine Farm brought fond memories to generations of residents and visitors. Often considered a relic of Cherry Hill's agrarian past, the property represents one of the bustling suburb's largest green spaces.

"This is a significant milestone in the history of our Township and is important to our environment, our neighborhoods and our future," Mayor Dave Fleisher said in a statement. "I am pleased that with the support of our Township Council we can now add Holly Ravine Farm to the hundreds of acres of preserved open space that we enjoy throughout Cherry Hill."

The Gilmour family had owned the farm since 1921. 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 1989, the farm remained John and Eva Gilmour's home.

"Our family is thrilled that the legacy of Holly Ravine Farm will be preserved forever," said Robert Gilmour, son of John and Eva. "We are confident that the Township will be a good steward of the land and are happy to be part of creating a greener Cherry Hill."

When Eva died in 2011, the family decided to try and preserve the property. But various obstacles interfered, prompting the Gilmour's to seek a buyer, which meant the possibility of development on the farmland.

Efforts to preserve Holly Ravine Farm hit a pivotal juncture last year, when Caddis Healthcare Real Estate — a health care real-estate company — sought to build a senior-living community at the property.

The proposal sparked an outcry from members of the public hoping to preserve the farm.

After a marathon hearing, which stretched into two meetings, the Cherry Hill Zoning Board voted May 31 against the proposed development. Reasons for rejection included concerns about additional traffic, the need for publicly funded sewage upgrades, and board members feeling the development wouldn't add to the township's quality of life.

In September, the township announced an agreement in principle to purchase the land from the Gilmour family. The Township Council voted unanimously on both readings to approve the acquisition.

"The preservation of Holly Ravine Farm is a smart investment in the quality of life in our Township," Council President Bill Carter said Monday. "This is going to pay dividends for a long time as the land will remain open space for all to enjoy."

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