Jim and Barbra Jurries founded JJ’s Acres in 1971 with no more than a new home with an attached greenhouse in Lake Tomahawk, two young children and a few gardening tools. Jim and Barb had a love for landscaping and gardening. They put their work hats on and while raising their children built a business that has been a part of the chapter of many people’s lives and experiences in the Northwoods.
Over time Jim and Barb saw a need to extend their flower services to the Minocqua/Woodruff area and choose to build a temporary pop up greenhouse at the present day Save More facility. After many trips traveling from Lake Tomahawk to Minocqua to their Save More greenhouse their eyes led them to a piece of property on County Hwy J. In the search to find the owner of the property they discovered that Barbara’s Aunt Adriana and Uncle Herb from the area had owned that land and had the property for sale. It was a meant to be opportunity and in the mid 1980’s the first tree came down to start clearing for the building for a new retail garden center on the current day Hwy. J location. While building the new greenhouse, JJ wanted to set up a local mailing address so he went to the Woodruff post office to get a P.O. Box and irony has it that he was assigned PO Box J, Woodruff, WI. So there we have it, JJ’s Acres located on Hwy. J with PO Box J. Through out the years many changes have taken place, their two sons grew up, the greenhouses were expanded and the family added a beautiful miniature golf course to the property.
In the late nineties their youngest son Jack had a desire to continue on with the family business with his wife, Judy. Jack and Judy took over the business in May of 2004 and in spring of 2007 opened a new state of the art garden center facility.
JJ’s Acres, named after JJ’s father, John Jurries, and has been a way of life for the Jurries family for over four decades. Gardening may be their job but more importantly it is their passion. Over the many years of business, stemming back to the “Lake Tomahawk” days Jim and Barb along with Jack and Judy have been blessed with many wonderful staff members and loyal customers whom they prefer to call friends and family. It is the pleasure of Jack and Judy, Jim and Barb and the JJ’s Acres staff to see the family business enjoy the success of its fourth decade and second generation of serving the community. JJ’s Acres is truly more than a “garden center” it is truly a Gathering Place for Families, Friends and Flowers. We look forward to the years that lie ahead - serving old friends and meeting new friends. We look forward to your visit!
Happy Planting, Happy Landscaping!
The Jurries Family
Sadly, on November 14, 2020 Barbara made her journey to her new heavenly home. She is the newest star in the sky but I promise she will be keeping a watchful eye on us all. Thank you Babas for sharing with us your kind heart - your kindred spirit will live on in all of us! God Bless! CLICK HERE to enjoy a video tribute to Babas!
And so the circle of life continued in 2023 - known to all as “JJ”, James Jurries, passed away on February 17, 2023. JJs life is one to to be celebrated for all he did for his family, his customers (whom he considered friends) and his community. Much was to be learned from JJ like remembering that all plants have a face and a back side, you need to treat plants like humans (they like water, sun and food also), you treat everyone the same, no matter who they are and where they come from, and oh be sure to appreciate every plant, every tree, every flower and every blade of grass because they are all gifts from God. JJ was a good soul and his spirit will live on in us all!
