Adams Property - Conserved 2003

Cross-country skiers may be familiar with the Old Billings Road and the rolling track of the Catamount Trail that takes them across the Adams property. In late August 2003, an easement on the 95 acre property, wedged between the SLT-conserved Page property and the Town of Stowe’s Sterling Forest, was conveyed to SLT by Stephen and Carol Adams. The property was then purchased by a conservation-minded buyer.

The rich forest land has been in the Adams family for generations. By the late 1800’s, Walter M. Adams who ran a construction business and built the old Partridge Inn as well as the old hotel on top of Mt. Mansfield, had acquired several hundred acres in and around Robinson’s Springs. The Adams family sold some of the land to Verner Reed and Rogers Adams, son of W.M Adams built what is today Edson Hill Resort. Other parcels were sold to Fritz and Muriel Weissner, a portion of which today is Stowe Land Trust’s Weissner Woods. Rogers and Emily Adams contributed to Stowe in several ways, but perhaps most notably by assisting the town in building the fire station just south of the village center. Stephen and Carol have dedicated the easement of this land to Rogers and Emily who he says would be please to know that something has been given back to a town that gave them so much.

The property is currently enjoyed by hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, hunters, and cross country and back country skiers. A series of trails traverse the property, such as the Catamount Trail and Edson Hill Ski Trail. The Adam’s parcel hosts key linkages in many trail networks. Conserving this parcel buffered the existing 2200-acre natural area from encroaching development and added additional acreage.

The Adam’s parcel provides habitat for a broad array of amphibian, bird, mammal and reptile species. Sign of pileated woodpecker, ruffed grouse, moose, black bear, snowshoe hair, fisher and other species have been seen on this property.