As Southern Idaho’s rapid growth continues to transform open spaces into housing subdivisions—a trend mirroring the massive, developer-driven boom seen across the border in Montana—Melody and Charlie Lenkner decided to buck the trend. Idaho 6 News reported that instead of cashing out to the numerous developers eyeing their 330-acre property south of Twin Falls, the couple donated the entire parcel to the Magic Valley Land Trust. Melody joked that they would “be rolling over in our graves” if their beloved land became a housing development, opting instead to preserve the scenic acreage—complete with sagebrush, a creek-carved canyon, and a pond—as a permanent sanctuary for local wildlife and the community.
The property is a thriving high-desert oasis, acting as a haven for a diverse lineup of wildlife including mule deer, river otters, badgers, and porcupines. While the Magic Valley Land Trust typically protects agricultural land from development, this project will be uniquely managed for direct public access, ensuring that Idahoans retain the same kind of vast, untouched natural escapes that draw people to places, just like Montana.
The Trust is currently preparing the land with trails, parking, and gates, aiming to open the new Cottonwood Canyon Nature Preserve within a year as a quiet, peaceful space for the community to connect with nature amid the region’s booming population.
Would you do the same thing with your property here in Montana?