In 2007, the 70-acre mountain top on Guemes Island was up for sale. It was the most beloved natural area on the island and although in private ownership, routinely used by islanders and visitors for bird watching, walking and solace while enjoying the fantastic 360 degree views. But the price tag for purchasing the property was steep, and the island community, small. A recession was looming.
What did this small community do? They started a campaign to “Save the Mountain”. Guemes Island community leaders asked Skagit Land Trust and The San Juan Preservation Trust for help protecting the property. It didn’t take long to assess that it was well worth doing – if rather daunting. The land trusts formed a partnership and assembled a steering committee. During the course of the campaign the economy crashed. It looked bleak - but then the land trusts negotiated a purchase price reflecting the changed conditions, an anonymous donor stepped forward and land trust staff undertook a fundraising campaign.
And together, they did it! Guemes Mountain was purchased in 2009. Skagit Land Trust now owns the property and the San Juan Preservation Trust holds a permanent conservation easement on the land. In all, $2,000,000 was raised for the land purchase. The top of Guemes Mountain is now the centre of 580 acres of private and public protected land for all to enjoy.