In A Landscape: Huntsville Monastery

Huntsville Monastery is the crown jewel of Ogden Valley. A permanent conservation easement — co-held by Ogden Valley Land Trust and Summit Land Conservancy — was recently placed on this iconic 1,050-acre property, protecting it from future development.

The monastery was founded by 32 monks who were mostly veterans of World War II, and served 84 monks and novices at the height of its operation in the 1960s. The monks were active farmers, ranchers, and beekeepers who used agricultural production as a form of prayer and devotion. In August 2017 the monastery officially closed due to the remaining monks’ advanced ages.

In addition to the historic and cultural significance of the property, the monastery also holds important conservation values that provide benefits to wildlife and biodiversity, watershed health, and the community. The farm serves as a wildlife corridor and provides potential habitat for two endangered species (the Canada lynx and yellow-billed cuckoo), and 10 migratory avian species. The property is also used as rangeland and wintering ground for elk and deer, and owl, hawk, and wild turkey populations thrive in the wooded areas at the edges of the farm’s pastures. The land was originally stewarded by the Eastern Shoshone and Ute. 

This concert benefits Ogden Valley Land Trust, which aims to protect the natural diversity and beauty of Ogden Valley for present and future generations.