Surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, and conservation supporters, the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) celebrated the grand opening of the Edward & Marlene Schmeer Preserve on Friday, June 5, marking the completion of a years-long conservation effort and the beginning of a new chapter for this special landscape.
Located between Tibbetts Point and Wilson Bay, the new Signature Preserve is part of a larger 360-acre conservation complex that protects forests, wetlands, grasslands, and important wildlife habitat while preserving the scenic beauty that defines this corner of the Thousand Islands region.
During the ceremony, TILT Associate Director Spencer Busler reflected on the journey that brought the project to fruition. “This is much more than opening a trail and cutting a ribbon, it’s celebrating a vision, a partnership, and the many people who worked together to make it happen.”
The story began years ago with the conservation of a 52-acre property along Fuller Bay. Over time, additional conservation projects and partnerships expanded the protected landscape. A major milestone came in 2023, when the Schmeer family partnered with TILT to conserve an additional 212 acres, helping create one of the largest contiguous protected landscapes in the area.
Like many conservation projects, the effort faced its share of challenges, yet through it all, the Schmeer family’s commitment to protecting the property never wavered. “The Schmeer family showed tremendous patience and dedication throughout the process,” Spencer said. “We’re standing here today because of their perseverance and their belief in protecting this land for future generations.”
Beyond protecting the land itself, TILT and its partners have spent the last several years restoring and improving the landscape. Former agricultural fields have been replanted with native grasses and wildflowers, invasive species have been removed, and habitat connections have been strengthened to support wildlife and improve ecological resilience.
The Preserve now provides important habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife while helping protect local water quality and ensuring public access to one of the region’s most beautiful natural areas.
A highlight of the event came when members of the Schmeer family shared stories about their family’s history on the property. Mark Schmeer recounted how his grandparents first discovered the land in the 1950s while searching for a summer cottage site. What began as a search for a single waterfront lot turned into the purchase of an entire farm and the start of a family legacy that would span generations. “Our parents loved this land,” Mark told attendees. “It’s why it’s so important to us that it remains together and protected in perpetuity in their name.”
TILT also recognized the many partners who helped make the project possible, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Program, the Land Trust Alliance’s Conservation Partnership Program, New York Sea Grant, Jefferson County, and numerous supporters whose investments helped protect and restore the property.
Following the remarks, members of the Schmeer family joined together for an official ribbon cutting before guests made their way up the Preserve trail to the new observation tower. There, visitors took in sweeping views of Wilson Bay, Lake Ontario, and the place where the lake meets the St. Lawrence River.
As attendees explored the trail and celebrated together, the day served as a reminder that conservation is about more than protecting land. It is about the families who care for it, the communities that enjoy it, and the shared commitment to ensuring these special places remain part of the Thousand Islands landscape for generations to come.
The Edward & Marlene Schmeer Preserve is now open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.