Quail Hollow Farms: Always Something Special
Quail Hollow Farms, located on 120 acres of rolling hills at the base of South Mountain in upper Cleveland County, grows some of the finest fruits, vegetables and flowering ornamentals in the state of North Carolina. Whether its the sweet taste of juicy strawberries in spring, refreshing cantaloupes and watermelons during the summer, or their beautiful bedding plants and hanging baskets, Quail Hollow Farms always offers something special to delight the senses.
Owner Charles Camp and his wife Sue purchased the farm property in 2000 when Charles sold his brokerage practice in Shelby. He saw the "retirement" venture as a way to enjoy time outdoors, and opened a state-licensed shooting preserve. Not long thereafter, Charles returned to his agricultural roots and began installing irrigation ponds and greenhouses on the property that once served as a wildlife park. Today, Quail Hollow Farms has 12 acres under irrigation and three greenhouses, and Charles is working harder than ever. A self-professed green thumb, Charles oversees all aspects of production of several crops, including strawberries, green beans, watermelon and cantaloupe. During a good season, Quail Hollow will produce more than 100,000 cantaloupes and 30,000 watermelons. They market 90 percent of their crops to wholesale buyers in Cleveland and surrounding counties. The remainder are sold to retail customers at the farm and at Foothills Farmers' Market in Uptown Shelby.
Quail Hollow Farms is a family operation. Charles and his business partner Norris Willis oversee production. His son Chip serves as marketing manager, with assistance from his wife Amber, and his mother, Sue. Chip's son Trip also works on the farm, often riding in the back of the truck to catch melons that are tossed to him when they are pulled from the vine. "Farm work has improved Trip's football game", says Chip. "Catching melons has dramatically improved his coordination and upper body strength!".
In addition to their farming operation, Quail Hollow hosts family reunions, wedding receptions, and other special events. They also offer Christian-based youth day camps and a state-licensed shooting preserve that features fully guided quail hunts over well trained dogs. You will find Quail Hollow Farms at Foothills Farmers' Market in Uptown Shelby most Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season. You can also learn more about them by visiting http://quail-hollow.net.
