- off the vine-

a catawba island blog

You wouldn’t be our first guest to turn a day trip into an overnight stay, or an Ohio mini vacation, so knowing where to rest your head is helpful.

Catawba Island and the surrounding region has lodging options from familiar chains, to cozy independent guest houses, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds, for those who love to wake to birds chirping. So be prepared. Pack your jammies.

Ah, Spring! Doesn’t everything feel fresh and new? The atmosphere in your home and your cooking take on different personalities. You put away the heartier comfort food recipes and bring out ones that take advantage of the local, seasonal harvest and cook quicker. Even the colors and scents you add to your home feel lighter and brighter.

That’s how the Farm Stand at Ørchard on Catawba Island looks and feels right now.

Survey says: Forty three percent of people say this is the best season for cocktails.* We agree! So, what are the other 57 percent thinking? Probably that any season is a good reason for a good craft cocktail.

At the Ørchard on Catawba Island, we can’t argue with that either. Of all the cocktail seasons, spring comes with the return of fresh, ingredients grown in our own garden and orchard. We can’t resist adding them to the cocktails recipes created in our restaurants and bars.

"Some producer from Magnolia Network called to speak with a manager..."

Yeah, that's really how it all started! The phone rang late in the morning one day last August, where a highly-caffinated barista promptly answered & naively scribbled a quick note. It wasn't until the passing of this mysterious note to our Business Manager where everthing suddenly took a heart-pounding turn. This was a once-in-a-lifetime message that would change the awareness of our family-owned & operated business for the rest of time!

There’s a special place in our summer heart for beer—whether it’s in a tall frosty glass with a foamy head, a chilled bottled, or a can, dripping with delightful little beads of sweat—and who doesn’t love the sweet sound of a pull tab popping?

While you’re making plans to visit us this July, we have some fun and unique suggestions to create a day or weekend you’ll remember. Each has that element of surprise that you may be looking for and we can guarantee that they are memory making, leaving you with plenty to talk about over dinner and wine at Orchard Bar & Table or sipping a cocktail at The Coop. If you’re spending the night and have the energy to experience more the following day start with breakfast at our Farm Stand where we offer fantastic coffees and espressos, fresh pastries, and hot breakfasts daily before you head for more fun.
Here’s five, maybe six, (who’s counting) fun events to add to your July adventure calendar. Promise you’ll join us before or after and celebrate your day!

Hey, if your dog’s not busy this summer, make a date to enjoy the patios at the Ørchard on Catawba, one of the few restaurant destinations on Catawba that welcomes man’s best friend. We have three patio areas—adjacent to our restaurant, at The Coop cocktail bar and around our Farm Stand café and retail store. Each is super dog (and people) friendly. 

Pictured is one of best friends - Gracie - who comes to the Farm Stand daily with her mom!

This time of year, harvest festivals are as abundant as the harvest. And why not? There’s so much to be thankful for. Think of all that the fields and orchards are is still yielding as we close in on winter: apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, root vegetables, hardy greens, leeks and onions, corn, grapes, cabbage and brussels sprouts, the last harvest of honey, even green tomatoes. Christmas is less than 100 days away (let that sink in) but let’s celebrate fall first!

Drink up, witches! It’s Halloween at the Orchard on Catawba and we’ve turned the Coop, our
fun and funky cocktail space, into a terrifyingly tasteful place to sip some freaking-ly amazing
cocktails.
Spooky Coop is open now through Halloween and we put our skulls together to create an atmosphere that’s little of eerie (cobwebs, skeletons and spiders), a bit tacky (blow ups, of course) and totally seasonal with pumpkins and cornstalks everywhere to get you in the mood for spooky time. The kids will love it but grownups, you’ll love it even more because we’ve shaken, rattled and stirred up a batch of Halloween-themed drinks, all treats, a few tricks, and little hocus pocus here and there, like edible glitter garnish. Here’s a sample of the potions we’re concocting for you.

It’s time for some table talk! With Thanksgiving just days away, you’re probably checking off what you’ll need to prepare a proper feast (turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes) that will make everyone happy (it can happen).

At the Orchard on Catawba Island, our resident diva of decor, Dana Blumensaadt, who curates the beautiful home and kitchen merch lines found at the Farm Stand, reminds not to forget the table where family and friends gather. “How your table looks and feels adds meaning to the day,” she says. “Making it look welcoming is worth the effort and something we constantly practice at the Orchard.”

Welcome to Off the Vine, a Catawba Island blog that embodies the historic island's way of life. Catawba Island was founded in 1861 and has become a beloved oasis & destination on the coast of Lake Erie. Rich in history (and soil) the island's quaint land is home to many family orchards & vineyards. It is said that the warm Lake Erie breezes in the late summer provide the ideal climate for stone fruit, apples & grapes to flourish.

Join us weekly as we share stories, history & our favorite ways to enjoy a perfect day on Catawba Island.

The days are longer, the weather warmer and the sun shines more on northwest Ohio and the Lake Erie islands. At the Ørchard on Catawba Island, we’re preparing to celebrate the return of summer with our guests.

Throughout our 24-acre farm the grapevines, apple and peach trees are budding out. We breathe a little easier knowing that our orchard and vineyard rows, as well as those throughout farms in Northwest Ohio, promise another great season of Ohio fruits for our tables.

Merry Kitsch-mas, everyone! It’s Christmas at the Coop. Who’s up for a full-on Coop-style Christmas that
delivers a smidgen of kitsch, a dash of whimsy and, a sprinkle of childish fun that comes with a lineup of
fantastic Christmas-themed cocktails? Of course it’s you!

We love creating atmosphere at the Ørchard on Catawba but transforming the Coop, our cool and cozy
cocktail lounge, to match the season is by far our favorite undertaking.

Twas’ the days before Christmas and all through your house, not a present has been purchased, ordered or bought...

It’s not a perfect rhyme but if this is your story this holiday season and your gift list includes people into decking their halls, we’ve got you covered. The Ørchard on Catawba Island is one of the brightest and most festive destinations in Ohio for the holidays, just a short drive from Toledo or Cleveland filled with shopping, dining and drinking.