The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has officially opened the 30-acre Waldershare Acres Nature Preserve on Bluff Point along Keuka Lake in the town of Jerusalem, Yates County. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week to celebrate the preserve’s opening to the public.
Waldershare Acres features two short intersecting loop trails totaling 0.6 miles, winding through mature hardwood forest that provides habitat for a variety of migratory and resident songbirds. The woodlands also help prevent erosion and reduce nutrient runoff into Keuka Lake.
The FLLT launched a fundraising campaign in 2024 to purchase Waldershare Acres and an additional parcel further south on Bluff Point. The preserve can now be accessed from a parking area on East Bluff Drive in Jerusalem and is open year-round from dawn to dusk for low-impact recreational activities such as walking, hiking, and nature observation. More information, including maps and directions, is available at fllt.org/waldershare.
The organization thanked the community and major donors who made the preserve possible, including Dave and Brenda Rickey, Karen Meriwether and Thomas Snow, and two anonymous donors.
“We are grateful for the community support that made Waldershare Acres possible,” said FLLT President Andrew Zepp. “It is our hope that this project will lead to the protection of additional lands on Bluff Point.”
Since its founding, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has protected over 34,000 acres of lakeshore, gorges, forests, and farmland, manages more than 45 nature preserves open to the public, and holds perpetual conservation easements on 200 privately owned properties. The FLLT focuses on preserving wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, connecting conservation lands, and maintaining prime farmland, while also providing educational programs for local governments, landowners, and residents.
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