A major piece of the Beaver Valley landscape has been secured for conservation, as the Bruce Trail Conservancy has purchased the former Talisman Mountain Resort lands and placed more than 120 acres under permanent protection.
The organization confirmed the acquisition on Monday, marking a significant shift for a property that has sat idle for more than ten years and has been at the centre of repeated development proposals. The purchase preserves sensitive Niagara Escarpment ecosystems, ensures public access to 885 metres of the Bruce Trail, and opens the door to one of the largest restoration efforts ever undertaken by the Conservancy.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment,” said Michael McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. “Protecting such a vulnerable and ecologically important area, beloved by the local community and vital to the biodiversity of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere, represents a major step forward for conservation and recreation in Ontario.”
The newly secured land lies near Kimberley, Ontario and includes the Escarpment brow, the former ski slopes, and buildings at the base of the hill. While the future of the existing structures remains undecided, the Conservancy says it is reviewing all options carefully.
The purchase follows years of public concern over large-scale development concepts for the shuttered resort. Local residents and visitors consistently warned about the potential environmental impacts and the precedent such projects could set across the Escarpment. With the land now in the hands of a conservation trust, BTC staff, ecologists, and volunteers will begin the work of restoring habitats that have deteriorated during years of vacancy.
Plans under consideration include major reforestation and remediation for species at risk that have been identified in the area, among them Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Least Bittern, and Louisiana Waterthrush. The former ski runs create the only break in the forest canopy along a ten-kilometre stretch of the western Beaver Valley, making tree planting a priority for returning ecological function.
“We have an exciting opportunity to restore neglected and damaged habitats on this property,” said Adam Brylowski, Director of Conservation and Trail for the Bruce Trail Conservancy. “These will be one of the most ambitious restoration projects in our organization’s history, helping us fullfil our mission to preserve a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.”
The Conservancy says strong community support made the purchase possible, highlighting the work of the Escarpment Corridor Alliance, which commissioned studies, facilitated early discussions with the former landowners, and contributed to the appraisal.
To support ongoing restoration and stewardship, the Bruce Trail Conservancy plans to launch a public fundraising campaign. Further information is available at brucetrail.org/talisman.
