Adams Camp Conserved!

Last update: September 29, 2006

We did it!  It was over two years ago that Stowe Land Trust decided to pursue the most ambitious conservation project we had ever considered.  With 513 pristine mountain side acres at stake, not to mention a wealth of local history, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat, the Adams Camp property seemed a no-brainer for conservation, though the question was how to do it

The price tag for the development rights on the Adams Camp property was set at $1.75 million dollars - a generous reduction from the original appraised value which soared close to $3 million.

In March of 2006, after carefully drafting a plan that would ensure the conservation of the property, SLT approached the voters in Stowe for a $450,000 bond which would serve as the initial momentum for the fundraising campaign.  After receiving an overwhelming YES vote, SLT approached the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for a $600,000 contribution which was also approved.  Feeling the momentum from its first two successful fundraising endeavors, SLT approached its membership and Stowe community members at large for the additional $700,000 required to seal the deal.

$700,000!  Yes, you read that correctly.  Its not a small sum of money and was certainly a formidable goal, but for community members concerned about the potential development of the Adams Camp property it only served as a call to arms.

With the tremendous help of several anonymous donors who provided ambitious challenges and hundreds of private contributors who stepped up to save one of Stowe’s last remaining large tracks of undeveloped land, SLT turned the final page of the Adams Camp story and has successfully conserved the 513 acre property for generations to come.

Heather Furman was notably pleased with the project’s completion.  Stating that, “We’ve worked night and day for over two yeas to see this project through to completion.  I am both in awe and humbled by the incredible show of support that the Adams Camp Heritage Project received.  With donations coming from as far away as Ireland, this property clearly had a wide appeal.  We are pleased that it will continue to play the same role in people’s lives two hundred years from now as it’s playing right now and has for several hundred years already.”

The conservation of Adams Camp establishes a benchmark as it pushes the total number of conserved acres over 3000 in the greater Stowe community.  It also marks SLT’s 24th conservation project in the organizations 18-year run. 

     

The following articles were published over the course of our year-long campaign and represent a chronological history of the project from most recent to the very beginning.

Adams Camp Presented with Second Fundraising Challenge

The Catamount trail weaves its way through the Adams Camp property

With $220,000 left to raise before closing on the Adams Camp Heritage Project in mid-September, Stowe Land Trust needs your help!  We have been offered a second fundraising challenge to help reach our goal of raising $1.75 million.  An anonymous donor has offered to match fifty-cents for every dollar raised between now and closing up to $50,000! 

We're almost there!  With more than 3/4 of the fundraising complete, now is the time to help us seal this historic deal and protect one of Stowe's true gems.  If you haven't already, now's the time to get involved.  Your gift will ensure that we are successful in protecting the Adams Camp property.

Home to abundant wildlife and some of the most-beloved backcountry ski trials in Vermont, Stowe Land Trust has had the Adams Camp property in its sites for nearly 2 years.  But it wasn’t until the overwhelming March Town Meeting vote that the citizens of Stowe demonstrated their commitment and support of Stowe Land Trust’s efforts.  The nearly 2-1 vote secured $450,000 toward the Adams Camp project, and laid the groundwork for Stowe Land Trust to bring in just over $1.5 million toward the purchase of development rights.

“This property not only provides important habitat, but is the nexus of some of our most popular cross-country ski trails that make coming to Stowe and exceptional outdoor experience,” said Heather Furman, Executive Director for Stowe Land Trust.  Not to mention that the property is an integral part of the historic Ranch Valley – literally the birthplace of skiing in Stowe.  Earlier this year, 5-time Olympic skier Chip Knight endorsed the project noting its significance to the skiing history and culture of Stowe.  The Adams Camp property links the trails of the Ranch Valley with those at the Trapp Family Lodge touring center. The Catamount Trail, which also serves as the Stowe Derby Trail bi-sects the property for nearly 1 mile connecting to the Top Notch touring center on its way to Wiessner Woods.  But Stowe Land Trust’s efforts go further. The property will be permanently available year-round for all types of non-motorized recreation including hunting, hiking, fishing, skiing and swimming.

Sitting in the upper reaches of the Ranch Brook and Little River watershed, the property is also a significant part of the greater Mt. Mansfield ecosystem. Contiguous with the 40,000-acre State Forest, this northern ecosystem supports mega fauna such as moose, black bear, coyote, bobcat, and deer, but also provides protection for smaller species as well.  “Conversion of traditional forestlands to second and even third home lots is the single largest threat to these and many other species,” said Furman.  But the damage can go deeper than that, “once the land is developed, the historical network of recreation trails, the spectacular viewsheds, the unmatched outdoor experience, and many of the reason why people choose to come to Stowe, are lost forever.”

In May, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board committed $600,000 to the purchase and Stowe Land Trust has been raising funds privately ever since.  Most recently, an anonymous donor challenged SLT to raise half of its private campaign goal of $700,000. When they did, Stowe Land Trust was rewarded with a $100,000 contribution, bring their grand total to just over $1.5 million.

SLT Meets $350,000 Challenge

In mid June, Stowe Land Trust was presented with a fundraising challenge by an anonymous donor interested in seeing us complete the Adams Camp project this summer! 

We were challenged to raise ½ ($350,000) of our private campaign goal of $700,000 at which point our anonymous donor would contribute an additional $100,000!

We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, July 12, we met the $350,000 challenge and will be collecting an additional $100,000 gift.  Through this incredible showing of support, SLT has closed in on the final $250,000 remaining to ensure the permanent conservation of Adams Camp.  With over ¾ of the funds raised, SLT is moving forward with impressive momentum.  This last challenge alone netted contributions equaling nearly $50,000 a week over a 6 week period.  Our hats are off to those that made it possible!

The past few weeks have been very exciting and we can’t thank our membership and supporters enough for their tremendous help.  But we’re not finished yet!  Stowe Land Trust will need to raise the final $250,000 before our scheduled closing. 

If you haven't found the time to make a contributionm now’s the time to get involved.  It’s very easy to contribute.  Click here to contribute online, or simply mail a check to PO Box 284, Stowe, VT, 05672.

Thank you!

 

Stowe Land Trust receives $600,000 from Vermont Housing and Conservation Board

On Friday, May 5, Stowe Land Trust was granted $600,000 from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.  Coupled with the $450,000 that the voters in Stowe approved on Town Meeting Day in March, SLT is more than half way to its fundraising goal of $1.75 million.  

“We’re all very pleased with the VHCB vote,” said Executive Director, Heather Furman.  Commenting on the strong support that the project has already received, she stated that “conservation is clearly a priority in Stowe.  This is an extraordinarily special piece of property. It contains excellent wildlife habitat, recreation trails, beautiful streams, and woodlands as well historic and cultural assets.” 

Stowe Land Trust has entered its third and final stage of fundraising for the Adams Camp Heritage Project.  The private fundraising campaign goal is $700,000 and with less than three months to raise it, Furman remains optimistic that the Adams Camp Heritage Project will generate the support that this magnificent piece of property deserves.  Click here to contribute to the Adams Camp Heritage Project.

Once conserved, the Adams Camp property will mark SLT’s 24th property and will push the total number of conserved acres in Stowe over 3000. 

 

Top: The Adams Property from the Octagon on top of Mt. Mansfield. Bottom: Property map of the Adams Camp land. Click images for a larger view.

The Facts

  •  The Conservation Easement on the Adams Camp property was appraised in 2004 for $2.9 million.
  • SLT has negotiated a bargain sale price of $1.75 million. Of that sale price Stowe voters have supported a bond of $450,000.
  • SLT has been granted $600,000 from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.  Coupled with the $450,000 from the Town, this brings the total raised so far to $1.05 million!
  • SLT's Next step will be to raise $700,000 privately.  Click here to help!

Why Conserve Adams Camp?

  • This area is threatened! The potential for development is REAL: This property could support numerous private lots—Stowe residents would lose access to this historic recreation area.
  • The recreation and cross-country ski trails provide critical linkages to an enormous trail network extending from Bolton to Trapps, Ranch Valley, Wiessner Woods, Sterling Valley, Mud City and beyond!
  • The property contains important wildlife habitat and is a critical linkage for black bear.

“The Adams Camp property is an integral part of the historic Ranch Camp Valley—the birthplace of skiing in Stowe. Once it is built upon, this history is lost forever.”  

-Chip Knight

What do Stowe Residents Stand to Gain?

  • Guarantee that a significant piece of Stowe’s recreation network and historic landscape will not be lost to development.
  • Guarantee that this property will be open to public recreation year-round. 
  • Guarantee that the existing uses will be maintained including cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, hiking and other non-motorized recreation.

The character of Stowe is changing! Let’s not look back 5 or 10 years from now and wish we had protected this property.

The Adams Camp property plays host to an historic trail network