In the latter part of the 1940’s, on a farm near Gaithersburg, Maryland, a buyer inquired about purchasing the pasture grass growing in front of the farm for sod. The farm owner’s son asked himself the question, “If people would pay money for pasture grass, I wonder what they would pay for really good sod?” Hence, William H. Wilmot founded Summit Hall Turf Farm in 1948 with the philosophy to grow, promote, market and sell the very best turfgrasses available to anyone in the market for a premium quality product.

One of the several improved varieties of these early turfgrasses was planted from a basket of sprigs obtained from the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland. It exhibited so many superior characteristics that its propagation to sale-able quantities was intensified, and thus, Summit Hall became the first commercial producer of Meyer (Z-52) Zoysia. A national TV appearance on the Arthur Godfrey Show in 1954 by a Summit Hall representative with Meyer Zoysia, followed by a nationwide advertising campaign, resulted in Summit Hall shipping grass from its little farm in Gaithersburg to points throughout the US and overseas. This is why Summit Hall proudly calls itself “The First Turf Farm of America.”

Over the past 70-plus years, and into its third generation of management, that founding philosophy of this pioneering, small family business has been steadfast. Caring for and growing the best turfgrasses possible is accomplished by daily hands-on contact with field operations by owners and managers. The work they do is a labor of love and a lifetime commitment, not just a profession. Those are the kind of people you do business with at Summit Hall.

Sincerely,
Frank H. Wilmot
General Manager