The Kohrs first trekked the Flathead Valley in 2001, drawn by the Stillwater River’s blend of open fields, forest and rugged peaks. They settled in Minnesota but returned year after year, treating the valley as a second home.
In 2005, they secured a modest 20‑acre plot along the riverbank, intent on safeguarding the land from development. Over the next seventeen years, the couple methodically purchased adjacent parcels, weaving a 655‑acre tapestry of farmland, riparian forest and wildlife corridors.
Game cameras set up on the property captured a veritable menagerie: grizzlies, black bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk and deer all using the land seasonally. The footage confirmed the site’s role as a crucial habitat and migration corridor for Montana’s largest predators.
On 1 August 2022, the Kohrs signed a permanent conservation easement with the Flathead Land Trust, ensuring the farm’s ecological integrity for generations. The easement locks the 1.7 miles of riverfront forest and nearly 500 acres of productive farmland into a protected unit that connects to thousands of acres of public and conserved land.