Public land is expanding in the foothills west of Colorado Springs. The U.S.
Forest Service on Wednesday announced acquiring nearly 130 acres of previously private property — a swath of stream-fed pine and aspen with wildlife-frequented meadows and mountain views. The acreage is being referred to as the Wagon Tongue Co. property, just south of Lake George, between Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Eleven Mile Reservoir.
In a news release, the Forest Service called it a "strategic" acquisition for "conservation, recreation and wildfire prevention." The move comes as the agency in recent years has been intensely focused on controlled burns and timber cutting in the populated area seen as vulnerable. Surrounding subdivisions "often face annual wildfire threats," South Park District Ranger Josh Voorhis said in the news release.
A map showing the nearly 130 acres the Forest Service has acquired near Lake George. Courtesy photo "We still have (environmental review) work, so it won't be immediate, but as we get additional paperwork in place, we're looking at using this property to access an area we previously didn't have access to," Voorhis told The Gazette. Beyond the logistical interest in the nearly 130 acres, "it's gorgeous," he said.
He called it "fairly unique" for the Pike and San Isabel national forests to add such a riparian area following a history of homesteaders and miners taking up land by water. "Most of that is private land," Voorhis said. "So this was an opportunity for us to acquire water, that stream, Wagon Tongue Gulch.
Which is pretty significant. It allowed us to acquire some water rights to help out with some of our livestock producers." Also significant, he said: "It was one of, if not the last undeveloped parcel on the east side of the South Park District.
" The Conservation Fund earlier this year purchased the property while the Forest Service secured money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund has conveyed the land for an undisclosed price. "The owner gave us a very fair price," Voorhis said.
"That family could’ve sold it for a higher price to developers and chose not to." That's the family of Alene Patterson. Her father purchased the property in the 1950s "because of its beauty and recreational values," she said in the news release.
Patterson recalled "wonderful memories" of exploring the forest and looking for animals with her siblings and later her kids. "Our goal is for the public to experience this special place now, too," Patterson said. Voorhis expected it to be "quite popular for folks because of the creek.
" He expected that to be especially true for hunters, drawn to the deer and elk that are drawn by the water. In a statement, U.S.
Sen. Michael Bennet praised parties "for their work to ensure future generations of Coloradoans can enjoy wildlife and recreational opportunities in southern Park County." Local Forest Service officials and The Conservation Fund similarly partnered on a land deal last year securing public access to Mount Democrat.
That deal involved the Land and Water Conservation Fund as well — a historic source that was reinvigorated by the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act and has since opened up the possibilities for public land acquisitions. The federal government is also funding wildfire mitigation in an unprecedented way. The Pike and San Isabel national forests are on a short list of priority landscapes in a national strategy called "Confronting the Wildfire Crisis.
" Asked if the Wagon Tongue acquisition represented any broader interest in land, Voorhis said "this one came to us kind of unexpectedly," adding: "No, I would not say there's a strategy of acquiring land for fire mitigation or anything like that." But "we've had a great working relationship with the Conservation Fund," he said. "We'll see where the partnership continues.
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