When Alois and Berta Batz bought a 122-acre farm in 1952, they envisioned it as a family retreat for visitors to enjoy. They constructed a bathhouse, boathouse, and a playground. In 1968, they established Deer Path Camp for children. Retiring from farming, the Batzes converted tractor storage sheds into shaded picnic sites and a corncrib into the camp's office and nurse's station. For $25 a week, children from ages 5 to 13 could participate in swimming, boating, horseback riding, archery, tennis, and more. An estimated 125 children attended the camp each year.
The county acquired the property in 1977 for use as an active park. Deer Path Park, which officially opened in 1985, provides a wide diversity of recreational activities for the public.
