Steve and Louise van der Haeghen,
Owners and General Managers
Steve van der Haeghen and his family have owned North Shore House for more than 40 years, serving as careful stewards of the historical property and inviting Sussex County’s residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the estate and its surrounding area. Since marrying in 1984, Steve and his new bride, Louise, have helped Steve’s father, Joe, and brother, Norman, see the estate through several iterations, including a dinner theater, a rock-and-roll venue, campground and a tavern. For her part, Louise already had experience in the hospitality industry, having helped to open a restaurant in 1983 not far from North Shore House known as Cari john’s Middleville Inn.
While the couple raised their two children, Steve worked primarily with his family to run North Shore House. It was during this time that Steve first developed a keen appreciation for the elements of hospitality design, and today he excels at creating spaces designed for guests’ supreme relaxation and enjoyment. Louise helped out while also working as a professional florist, where her artist’s eye and imaginative flair dazzled her clientele. After Joe died the property remained a campground, and hosted occasional events open to the public but all the while the couple dreamed of one day transforming the estate into a setting designed to host truly unforgettable weddings.
Now, the husband-and-wife team are excited to announce the opening of North Shore House as an all-inclusive wedding venue and hotel as well as a premier location for celebrating other special occasions. Steve and Louise look forward to helping their guests create amazing memories in a breathtaking setting, with service that’s second to none.
Kenneth Salmon, Executive Chef
A regionally renowned culinary professional, Ken Salmon is an award-winning chef with nearly 25 years of experience. Schooled by the celebrated Culinary Institute of America in New York in the early ‘90s, Ken has since gained a wealth of cooking experience. After his graduation, he served as sous chef at a number upscale restaurants in both New York City and New Orleans, where he developed a flair for pairing unexpected flavors in exciting—and delicious! —new ways.
Looking to further expand his culinary repertoire, Ken spent nearly a year in Italy under the tutelage of some of the country’s best chefs. There, he developed an appreciation for hyperlocal ingredients as he learned to prepare fresh vegetables that he picked himself in the mountains of Montepertuso and cooked fish freshly caught from the Mediterranean in Positano.
Originally from Sparta, NJ, Ken returned to his New Jersey roots in 2010 served as the executive chef of the nearby Mohawk House for several years before opening his own restaurant, Upstream Grille. A three-star establishment (as rated by The Star-Ledger), the Lake Hopatcong American-fusion eatery was named one of the top 20 restaurants in the state by New Jersey Monthly.
Ken joined North Shore House as its executive chef in January 2019, where he develops our original seasonal menus and leads a talented culinary staff in preparing fresh, innovative dishes for our restaurant patrons, wedding guests, and event attendees.
Eric van der Haeghen, Sales
Eric has long shared his parents’ dream of restoring North Shore House to its original glory, so, after owning his own business for eight years, Eric has done the same that his own father did before him. He’s joined Louise and Steve in running the family business. Now overseeing sales and customer relations, Eric serves as the primary point of contact for North Shore House’s clients and guests, ensuring each and every couple’s vision for their dream wedding becomes a reality.
Marc van der Haeghen, Operations
Like his brother, Marc, too, has always wanted to help his parents transform North Shore House into a rustic, elegant lakeside wedding venue. After graduating from Blair Academy in 2009, Marc went on to study business administration before joining his parents and brother in renovating the estate. As the business grows and expands, Marc will continue to use his education and training to handle business operations and finances for North Shore House.