This modest stone gazebo (still standing) on the west side of Lake Drive a few blocks south of the entrance to South Fairy Chasm was called the “Entrance to the Alps.” It is symbolic of efforts to develop this area to provide recreational enjoyment of its natural beauty. The gate was the starting point for nature walks through the adjoining ravines, highlighted by man-made interpretive features.

At the turn of the century, Jake Donges and Fred Usinger developed the area north of the “lion gates.” The former Fish Creek Ravine was renamed Fairy Chasm. Picnickers would present a ticket at the “gate” and follow a winding path about two miles through the “Fairy Chasm” to the mouth of Fish Creek and a sandy beach on Lake Michigan. The paths were well maintained, rare trees were planted and labels for the trees were installed as well as other signs with snatches of poetry. As late as 1925 and for a few years thereafter, those paths were still serviceable. At exceptionally good outlook points, benches had been built and signs posted to name the various views.

The Fairy Chasm Gate was built in the same pebble and mortar construction as the “lion gates” at the corner of Fairy Chasm Road and Lake Drive. Mr. Donges acquired all sorts of relics and installed them on his expansive estate on North Lake Drive south of the county line. There was a statue of an Indian shielding his eyes with one hand that Mr. Donges erected in the ravine. The base of the statue is inscribed “Hiawatha looking for Minnehaha.” Another statue was of Justice blindfolded and holding a pair of scales that had adorned the dome of the Milwaukee County Courthouse on Jackson and Kilbourn Avenues.

An imposing fieldstone wall was built at the entrance to the south tract, with two beautiful ironwork gates that were kept closed. The two leaves of the gate at the entrance to the south tract bore the initials “F” and “C” which originally stood for “Fish Creek” but later they identified “Fairy Chasm,” the new name of the area.

The fieldstone entrance with its ornamental iron gate defined the entry to South Fairy Chasm until 1941 when it was demolished by a careless driver. The stone walls were later removed and replaced with an iron fence. That fence, also equipped with usable gates, suffered the same fate as its predecessor and was replaced with the present entrance.