August 4, 2025 Lake George Land Conservancy Permanently Protects Pilot Knob Mountain
Lake George, NY – The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) purchased 517 acres of Pilot Knob Mountain on Tuesday, July 29, marking a pivotal moment in the LGLC’s $9 million 2025 Land Campaign.
The $3.8 million purchase includes 517 acres of densely forested mountainside and Pilot Knob’s 2,159-foot summit and ridgeline. With 1.6 miles of streams that ultimately flow into Kattskill Bay, this land is incredibly important for protecting the water quality of Lake George.
The land is close to the LGLC’s Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob in Fort Ann, and sits just south of Buck Mountain, sharing more than 1.6 miles of its border with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Wild Forest. This large-scale habitat is critical for the plants and animals that make their home in the region’s forests.
The property had been one of the largest privately-owned properties in the south basin and was zoned for development of up to 60 buildings. With its purchase by the LGLC, the forested mountain will remain forever protected, ensuring that its scenic beauty will remain as it is, for generations to come.
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn said, “It is difficult to find the words to describe how important this project is to Lake George. This land will forever work to protect water quality, air quality, natural habitat, and the scenic beauty that we all enjoy.”
The permanent protection of Pilot Knob Mountain was a keystone project in the LGLC’s 2025 Land Campaign. The $9 million Campaign also includes the protection of more than 700 acres in the Indian Brook and Northwest Bay area of Bolton. Together, these forested lands have 2.8 miles of streams and more than 26 acres of wetlands that are critical to maintaining Lake George’s exceptional water quality.
“We are grateful to the sellers for trusting the LGLC to protect this land and carry forward their decades of stewardship,” said Horn. “Thank you also to all of the generous donors that made this project possible.”
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