BOYNE CITY — A sweeping 654-acre conservation effort in Charlevoix County has been finalized, with Little Traverse Conservancy announcing the permanent protection of forested hilltops near Boyne City under the new name Chigidaaki: Place of the Big Hill Working Forest Reserve.
The property, formerly known as White Mountain, is the largest working forest reserve ever protected by the Conservancy in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The land rises more than 1,000 feet in elevation and includes hardwood forests, open meadows, and a network of two-track trails with panoramic views of Lake Charlevoix.
“Connecting protected lands is essential to safeguarding plants and animals as their habitats are lost or altered,” said Derek Shiels, director of land stewardship for the Conservancy. “This is landscape-level conservation.”
The name Chigidaaki, meaning “Place of the Big Hill” in Anishinaabemowin, was chosen in collaboration with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The Odawa historically traveled inland to the area to hunt, gather, and harvest timber, according to tribal historian Eric Hemenway.
The acquisition was supported by nearly 200 individual donors, including an anonymous lead contributor who requested the name reflect the Indigenous language. Longtime supporters Josette Lory and John McLeod called the size and proximity of the land “rare,” while contributors Patricia O’Handley Robinson and N. Edward Robinson said it offered space for both wildlife and people “to wander and wonder at creation.”
The Benz family, who previously owned the land, said they gave the Conservancy time to raise the necessary funds. “We felt conserving it would be a wonderful legacy,” said Lee and Claire Benz. “Now more people will be able to enjoy the trails, the views, and the wildlife.”
“This project is a beautiful reminder that conservation is not just about land — it’s about people,” said Kieran Fleming, the Conservancy’s executive director. “To have nearly 200 individuals come together to protect a place like Chigidaaki shows the heart of this community.”
Little Traverse Conservancy plans to begin a long-term management plan for Chigidaaki, with fundraising continuing through 2025 to support permanent stewardship of the land.