Our Story

A peninsula built on peaches

Catawba Island is a narrow thumb of land poking into Lake Erie, and in the late 1800s it was one of the greatest peach-growing regions in the country. J.W. Gamble and A.S. Reynolds planted the first Catawba peach orchards here in the 1860s. By the 1890s, the island held more than two hundred thousand fruit-bearing peach trees, shipping fruit out by boat and railroad to cities that had come to expect Catawba peaches by name.

Then the twentieth century happened. Development edged out the orchards. Most of the trees came down. What was left was mostly stories.

2004, back to the island

Brad Schwan grew up in Port Clinton, graduated from Port Clinton High School, studied education at Bowling Green, and spent years teaching in Arizona. In 2004 he and Diana came back and bought the property on NW Catawba Road. In 2005 they started planting peach trees.

They planted peaches because Catawba Island used to have peaches, and they wanted to bring some of that back for the neighbors and the vacationers who drive up from Port Clinton.

What the stand is now

The orchard is small and family-run. Brad and Diana grow the peaches. The stand carries the rest: sweet corn, tomatoes, raspberries, melons, apples, jarred goods, sourdough bread, and the peach muffins that customers long ago decided to call the World’s Best. It’s a roadside stand. You pull in, you pick what looks good, you leave with your arms full.

Come walk the orchard

Visitors are always welcome to walk through the orchard. Brad is also available for local peach history walks and talks. Catawba Island has a long story to tell, and he’s happy to tell it.

We’re open summers. Come find us.