Snodgrass parcels to be preserved as open space

Final funds raised days before closing. Mt. Crested Butte doubles pledge

The Gunnison Valley community came together in recent weeks to help the Crested Butte Land Trust secure funding for the conservation of 108 acres of land at the base of Snodgrass Mountain.

The land is within and adjacent to the town limits of Mt. Crested Butte, to the west of Gothic Road and to the north of the Fantasy Ranch stables. Once the land is purchased, the land trust will put a permanent conservation agreement in place and will donate the land to the town of Mt. Crested Butte, preserving access to the start of the Snodgrass Trail.
Just a few weeks ago, in mid-December, the land trust was $59,000 short of the $2.8 million needed to purchase three parcels of land: Promontory Ranch 1 and 2 from a subsidiary of Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR); and a connected parcel from the Ingraham family. With the contract for purchase set to expire on January 15, 2015, the clock was ticking to raise the final funds.
But according to Ann Johnston, executive director of the land trust, the community came through. “Individuals and family foundations, even other local nonprofits, stepped in to raise the necessary funds to secure the Snodgrass project,” she said.
The Mt. Crested Butte Town Council doubled its contribution from $30,000 to $60,000, bringing the land trust within $7,000 of its goal just one week shy of the deadline. At a January 6 Town Council meeting, Mt. Crested Butte mayor David Clayton acknowledged how many donors had made the purchase possible and said he wanted to see Mt. Crested Butte help close the deal—particularly since it includes access to the Snodgrass Trail.
“You have a lot of funders involved, from GOCO [Great Outdoors Colorado] on the bigger side to fairly small donors. I think the project is well worth doing. I think the land there … needs to be preserved, it needs to be open space and needs to be something that people appreciate,” Clayton said.
The final $7,000 came together quickly, and Johnston says the project was unique because of its widespread appeal to the community.
The move to purchase the parcels and conserve the area brought together a diverse array of partners, including the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte, the ski resort, ranchers and recreationists. “People love beautiful, scenic, open spaces—something Snodgrass Mountain delivers in spades,” Johnston said.
Yet Johnston also believes the success of the project speaks to more than the appeal of open spaces, wildflowers, aspen groves and biking trails. It also speaks to the importance of such conservation efforts in the local community.
“This project is truly a beneficial collaboration between the ski area, the land trust, the town of Mt. Crested Butte, and the town of Crested Butte,” Johnston said. “While preserving the natural beauty, saving the Snodgrass Trail also contributes to the economic diversity and prosperity to guarantee our community’s sustainability. For business owners, open space is a priceless amenity for a self-sustaining economy. It brings people here—and it keeps them coming back. For ranchers, preservation complements their heritage and way of life. And for recreationists, Snodgrass provides serenity and inspiration.”
With funding set, the closing was scheduled for Thursday, January 15, at which the land trust will purchase the land, put the conservation agreement into place, and donate the land to Mt. Crested Butte.
“We look forward to acquiring the property and to maintaining it and making it available to the public,” said mayor Clayton.