A Goat Atop Al Johnson’s Sod Roof in Sister Bay

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay has kept goats on its sod roof since the early 1970s, an idea credited to Al Johnson and a Swedish visitor named Lars Larson who suggested the Scandinavian touch. The roof itself dates to the restaurant's 1973 expansion, built with a grass-and-sod covering typical of rural Norwegian and Swedish building traditions. The goats spend warm months on the roof and are moved to a nearby pasture during winter. Their rooftop presence has made the restaurant one of the most ed stops in Door County, drawing visitors as much for the animals as for the Swedish menu below.

Photo taken in October 2019.