History

The West Canada Preserve property was part of the Anson Blake Estate from 1847-1890. When the Adirondack League Club was formed in 1890, all of those holdings were sold to the new club. The land remained in club control until the late 1940’s….at that time it was sold to the Miller family from Ohio. Miller was a lumberman and eventually sold the property to a major lumber concern in the area…several others followed with ownership finally going to the West Canada Preserve in 2000. The area is rich in the history and lore of the north woods…this was, and is, a sportsman’s paradise. Hunting and fishing have always been part of the attraction to this section of the north-country. Logging played a major role in the history of the West Canada Creek…the crick was used to float logs to market, with the last log drive taking place in the late 1940’s. It must have been something to see spruce logs piled two stories high on the ice, waiting for the spring thaw and the wild ride down stream to the mill. This was cold dangerous business, and many men lost their lives or were seriously injured on those river drives. It is fair to say, that there was a great deal more activity in this area 100 years ago than there is today!

In 1892 the State of New York created the Adirondack Park and in 1894 the “forever wild” clause of the state constitution. NYS has almost 3 million acres of publically owned land in the Adirondacks...all of this land is part of the Forest Preserve and can never be sold or lumbered. The West Canada Preserve borders over 150,000 acres of these NYS wilderness lands…there is a lifetime of adventure and exploration right next door. The property currently hosts an annual wilderness event for members of the Wounded Warrior Project. The outdoors offers great healing and therapeutic value for everyone, but even more so, for our injured service men and women.

For those who want to learn more, there are a number of books available which deal specifically with the West Canada and surrounding areas. Here are some of the best ones to help learn more about this unique area and its history:

Adirondack French Louie
by Harvey Dunham
West Canada Creek
by David Beetle
Kuyahoora
by Paul Keesler
Adirondack Forest & Stream
by Donald Wharton
Adirondack Sportsman’s Reader
by Donald Wharton
Adirondack Adventures: Bob Gillespie and Harvey Dunham on French Louie's Trail
by Roy E. Reehil and William J. O'Hern

Vision

Owning and managing a 1600 acre wilderness property has many rewards and challenges…proper planning for the future is one of the most important tasks. It is the vision of the current owners that this land remain as it is...unspoiled, but still enjoyed by future generations. Finding the right legacy for the future is important to us in a variety of ways. We would like to see the continuation of scientific forestry management on the preserve. Well managed forests contribute to the economy, help improve wildlife habitat and have a positive impact on the environment because they absorb carbon dioxide. Wood is a renewable resource that has great value to our world in many ways. We also hope that the land will continue to be used for wildlife research, cold water fisheries study and for personal healing with organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project.

The current owners are very active in the Adirondack Landowner’s Association. This organization represents the collective interests of over 200,000 acres of privately owned land in the Adirondack Park. Learn more at www.adklandowners.org

It is also our vision that this land remain accessible for outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, canoeing and camping. This is a wilderness that you "can get to"….a rare opportunity in today’s world. We have ideas for future improvements to the camps and infrastructure that may be of interest to future owners, and we would be happy to be part of that effort.

We are offering a unique investment opportunity, really a "chance of a lifetime" to purchase an ownership share in the West Canada Preserve. You can be part of creating a rare recreational and conservation legacy…one that can be enjoyed now and preserved for future generations.