Music Meadows Ranch

Within days of beginning his fellowship at the San Isabel Land Protection Trust, Kevin League was in a room with nearly 12 members of the Parker family as they discussed what to do with the family’s Music Meadows Ranch. Family patriarch William Parker was in his 80s with deteriorating health. The family was considering options—including development—to cover a looming inheritance tax bill.

Over the next 16 months, Kevin worked with Parker’s daughter, Elin Rusher, to develop a plan for conserving the ranch, the cornerstone property in a broader plan to conserve 15,000 acres of the southern Wet Mountain Valley. They jointly assembled a proposal that brought in a $2 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado. CCT and our “Keep It Colorado” partners added another grant last year that completed the first 2,470 acres. A further 1,200 acres will be conserved in 2009.

While Kevin’s fellowship ended last year, he was hired on in a full-time capacity to serve as San Isabel’s land protection specialist.