Vermont bought a mountain in 1959 but left out a key detail: Decades later, the state wants to buy its trees

In 1959, the state of Vermont bought the land that would later become part of the Snake Mountain wildlife area. But the deal left one big detail unresolved: the former owner kept the logging rights. For decades, the land itself and the rights to its trees belonged to different hands. Now, 67 years later, state officials want to finish what was started and bring the property back under one roof.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, working alongside the Trust for Public Land, plans to buy back the timber rights for 950 acres within the protected area. At the same time, the state wants to add another 256 acres between the towns of Addison and Weybridge. Both deals are expected to wrap up by early 2027.

Right now, the area covers nearly 1,200 acres of forests and wetlands, mostly surrounded by farmland. The expansion would help connect local wildlife habitats, create more space for hiking, hunting, and birdwatching, and allow officials to manage the forest under a single conservation plan.

Vermont wants to finish the job for the sake of the ecosystem

On top of that, Snake Mountain holds major ecological value. The land features eight different types of wetlands, including a glacial peat bog that dates back roughly 9,500 years. The mountain is home to peregrine falcons and provides critical shelter for threatened bat species, including the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat.

Conservation leaders believe expanding and reuniting the property under single ownership will make the local ecosystem far more resilient against climate change. The move will safeguard forests, wetlands, and waterways while giving wildlife more room to roam and adapt. The project is being funded through a mix of public and private money, including $1.25 million from a federal conservation program, along with state grants and private donations.

And the growth might not stop there. The Nature Conservancy plans to donate another 89 acres next to the preserve. Known as Willmarth Woods, this tract holds one of the last big stands of mature, low-altitude forest in the Champlain Valley, plus one of the primary trailheads leading to the Snake Mountain summit. What started as a partial land purchase back in 1959 could finally evolve, nearly seven decades later, into a far larger and fully protected sanctuary.

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