Abandoned Belvidere golf center revitalizing into family flower farm

The former Hickory Knolls Golf Center in Belvidere, near the intersection of East State and Shaw roads, is getting new life, becoming Twisted Roots Flower Farm. The flower farm plans to offer a pick-your-own flower experience and a farm stand, revitalizing an overgrown space. The idea stemmed from the dream of 9-year-old Mia Robertson to become a flower farmer.

Mia began her journey by growing flowers at home. She sold her blooms from her family’s driveway, which eventually inspired the family to expand her passion into a larger operation. “We planted some flowers out in our backyard, and then I would sell them in our driveway. I really like to do it, and my parents really like to help. And so then they wanted to make it bigger,” Robertson said.

The Robertson family acquired the property in early April and has since been actively clearing debris and preparing the fields for cultivation. They aim to plant more than 20,000 flowers across the 20 acres of land. The farm is envisioned to bring life to a long-abandoned part of the community.

Her parents, Josh and Kimberly Robertson, hope the flower business will instill valuable life lessons in their children. Along with Mia, the other Robertson siblings, Eli and Eden, run small businesses of their own, with Eli selling keychains and Eden selling homemade cookies.