| |
|
In the spring of 1933, twenty two year old Ralston ‘Fox’
Smith started a day camp by renting property east of Chagrin
Falls. Fox was teaching physical education at Malvern School
in Shaker Heights and wanted to continue his work with
children during the summers. In 1938, Fox rented the 161
acre Patch Farm located in Russell Township. Fox’s dream was
to build and develop a permanent camp for children to serve
families in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.
The farm’s rolling hills and rugged terrain spotted with
woods, fields, springs and brooks created an ideal setting
for a summer camp. Soon the tall beech and sugar maple woods
were dotted with Adirondack shelters. Pastures and meadows
became athletic fields, the main stream was dammed to create
a swimming area, and the barns became stables for an
ever-growing interest in horsemanship. The farm’s original
Sugar Bush remained untouched and continued to produce maple
sugar throughout the life of the camp. Fox called his new
creation “Red Raider”, the nickname of the Colgate
University and the later Shaker Heights High School.
Initially, small groups of children from Fox’s neighborhood
were brought to camp in his own car. Soon the first camp bus
was purchased and for the next forty years, Red Raider buses
with the familiar “Red Raider Knight” emblem flooded the
eastern suburbs. Not only did day campers attend Red Raider,
but a summer overnight camp evolved and eventually
accommodated 120 campers and staff. In 1943, Fox was able to
purchase the original property and by 1954, Red Raider had
blossomed to 214 acres. At this time it boasted over forty
buildings including six residential staff houses, three
barns accommodating 100 horses, two large indoor riding
arenas, a main dining hall and dormitory complex, three
craft buildings, a maintenance building, several sleeping
cabins, and a score of Adirondack shelters. Numerous trails,
conservation projects, and nature study areas were also
scattered throughout the dense woods.
In the summer of 1972, the adjacent 74-acre Schreve Property
was purchased and Red Raider expanded to 288 acres. With
this acquisition and the tremendous growth of the day camp
program, the residential camp was discontinued. Red Raider
continued to flourish and, at the height of its economic
prosperity, the camp serviced thirty different communities
from Painesville to Berea to Akron. Throughout the summer
months, a dozen camp buses and five vans transported well
over 600 campers and staff to Red Raider. During the fall
and spring, after-school horseback riding programs expanded
use of the Red Raider campus and allowed over 500 children a
week year-round access to the property. Weekend retreats,
hayrides, parties, and horseback riding added additional
year round opportunities for thousands of eager children.
Approaching retirement, Fox sold Red Raider Camp during the
summer of 1975. A few short months after this, Fox passed
away. The new owners worked to maintain the integrity and
character of the original Red Raider Camp though, in the
end, decided to sell the property to a developer in 1980.
Transcom Builders toured the property and envisioned how the
trails, stables, waterfall, magnificent trees and grand
natural beauty could be developed into an exclusive
equestrian community. Careful and innovative planning along
with ahead-of-the-times initiatives in ‘green’ living shaped
Red Raider Trails, one of the most recognizable residential
developments in Northeast Ohio. Today, Red Raider Trails
maintains the character of Fox’s original Red Raider
community. Our mission is to preserve and protect the
community’s natural beauty and to foster a safe neighborly
culture through inclusive governance that demonstrates
responsible stewardship to maximize Red Raider’s value for
present and future generations. |
|
| |
|
|
|
