WLAC Expands Nature Area by 30 Acres, Creates 285-Acre Protected Land Corridor

The Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy (WLAC) has completed a nearly 30-acre expansion of its Wildwood Harbor Nature Area, creating the largest permanently protected land complex owned and managed by the organization.

The acquisition was made possible through the generosity of The Carls Foundation, The Norcross Family Foundation, and donors to WLAC’s 2025 Critical Lands Campaign. In spring 2026, WLAC purchased two adjoining parcels from John and Cynthia Young and Gary and Valerie Dingman, permanently conserving approximately 30 acres of forest and wetland habitat in the southern portion of the Walloon Lake watershed.

The newly protected lands, which will be known as the Hyde-Young Preserve and Dingman Preserve within the Wildwood Harbor Nature Area, connect Wildwood Harbor Nature Area with Ellis Woods Preserve and Unni’s Forest Preserve. Together, these properties now form a contiguous 285-acre block of protected land owned and managed by WLAC.

“This project represents a significant investment in the long-term health of the Walloon Lake watershed,” said Jon Breithaupt, Executive Director of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy. “By connecting existing preserves and protecting sensitive wetlands and forests, we are safeguarding critical wildlife habitat and helping preserve the exceptional water quality that defines Walloon Lake.”

The expanded conservation area is more than twice the size of any other preserve complex managed by WLAC. The newly protected acreage includes rolling northern hardwood forest and wetlands near Lake Evangeline, the only other inland lake within the Walloon Lake watershed.

These wetlands play an important role in filtering water flowing into Fineout Creek and ultimately into Walloon Lake. Protection of the property will also maintain a high-quality wildlife corridor supporting species including black bear, bobcat, beaver, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mink, and numerous species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and pollinators. WLAC plans to develop a comprehensive management plan for the property later in 2026 to guide long-term stewardship activities, forest management, wildlife habitat protection, and public access considerations.

The total project cost was $294,148. The acquisition was made possible in part through WLAC’s Land Protection Fund, which allows the organization to act quickly when conservation opportunities arise. Following the purchase, approximately $534,468 remains available in the fund for future land protection projects.

WLAC also recognizes the valuable in-kind assistance provided during the transaction by longtime supporter Wally Kidd and business manager Lauren Simon.

To celebrate the conservation success, WLAC will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, July 10, at 12:00 p.m. at the Wildwood Harbor Nature Area trailhead parking lot on Wildwood Harbor Road. The event will include remarks, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, an optional guided hike, and light refreshments provided by WLAC.