Whitefish Legacy Partners Announces Acquisition of 35-Acre Property for New Whitefish Legacy Center!

Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP), creators and stewards of the Whitefish Trail, has acquired a 35-acre parcel north of Whitefish that will become the future Whitefish Legacy Center. The property — formerly the Whitefish Bike Retreat in the Beaver Lakes area — had been slated for a 90+ unit high-density development. Through this strategic purchase, WLP will prevent incompatible development and honor the community’s long-held commitment to open lands, recreation and outdoor education in an area where the organization conserved and protected 1,520 acres of Montana School Trust Lands in 2014.

Opening summer 2026, the Whitefish Legacy Center will become the new heart of the Whitefish Trail—a place for outdoor education, community connections and gatherings, and ongoing stewardship of our protected, community shared lands. Re-vitalizing the property for improved public access and repurposing the existing buildings, WLP will expand its outdoor education, recreation and conservation programs for the Flathead Valley.

“The Whitefish Legacy Center is so much more than a place—it’s an investment in the character, culture, and future of our valley and the Whitefish Trail,” said Heidi Van Everen, Executive Director of Whitefish Legacy Partners. “WLP’s vision will reflect the spirit of the community and continue our commitment as a trusted steward of local lands. We are building a new home for community connections and shared experiences—in one warm, welcoming outdoor place.”

The purchase was made possible through the generous support of a small group of WLP legacy donors who share a deep dedication to the organization’s mission and the Flathead Valley. Longtime Legacy Donor and WLP Board Member Julie Baldridge shared, “It is inspiring for Summerfield and me to support an organization that so successfully protects our community’s character, our surrounding landscapes, and the recreation amenities and stewardship ethos that are essential to our way of life.”

Fundraising will begin immediately to renovate existing structures, build new trail access, and expand WLP’s education, conservation, and stewardship capacity.

“The creation of the Whitefish Legacy Center comes in the middle of an already big year for our organization,” said Reid Sabin, Chair of the WLP Board of Directors. “We continue our work to permanently protect lands and expand trails at the head of Whitefish Lake, and to improve connectivity from the Holbrook Overlook Trailhead in partnership with the Flathead National Forest and Whitefish Mountain Resort, bringing us ever closer to closing the loop of the Whitefish Trail.”

As fundraising and renovations get underway, WLP will share more information about community access and programming in late spring 2026. WLP invites interested donors to reach out with questions, schedule a tour of the new Legacy Center, and consider a donation in support of this project.