CAS Sells Twin Valleys Education Center to Land Trust Champlain Area Trails
College Auxiliary Services at SUNY Plattsburgh has reached an agreement to sell its outdoor education center, Twin Valleys in Lewis, N.Y., to the conservation land trust Champlain Area Trails in Westport, N.Y.
The center has served as a field campus for the university since 1944 when then-President Charles Ward first arranged to purchase the property from Mason’s Lumber Company at two dollars an acre, said Catherine Keleher, executive director of CAS.
At the time of the purchase in the 1940s, faculty and students raised the funds to help with the purchase. For the 80 years since, the property has been used by SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff, students and the community as an outdoor science lab.
Dr. David Levy
Known as one of the darkest spots in the United States because of the lack of ambient “light pollution,” it became a favorite of Dr. David Levy, renowned astronomer and co-discoverer of Shoemaker-Levy 9, the comet that collided with Jupiter in 1994. Levy attended summer science camp there as a teen.
“Twin Valleys has been a cherished part of the SUNY Plattsburgh experience,” Keleher said. “Today, it remains an incredible resource, but times have changed.
“Campus use has steadily declined and financial pressures have increased. Given these challenges, CAS explored options that would allow us to safeguard the spirit of Twin Valleys while ensuring long-term sustainability,” she said.
This led to what Keleher called, “an exciting partnership with Champlain Area Trails.”
“Over the last several years, CATS has supported our trail network, helping us maintain and expand the paths enjoyed today,” she said.
Champlain Area Trails said that the acquisition of the center “will significantly deepen CATS’ impact, allowing the organization to broaden its programming and amenities for the public.”
“This acquisition marks a significant milestone for CATS and our mission to connect people with the stunning natural landscape of the Champlain Valley,” said Arin Burdo, CATS executive director. “Owning the Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center enables us to keep these trails and land open and accessible to our community while expanding our educational opportunities and conservation initiatives.”
Keleher said the sale “provides crucial financial relief to CAS and our campus community. Additionally, as a land trust, CATS is committed and provides public use of their properties. As CATS decides how best to honor Twin Valleys, reservations for the buildings are on hold for the foreseeable future, but everyone is welcome to visit the beautiful trains, not only at Twin Valleys but throughout the network of trails that CATS maintains.”
'Legacy with Endure'
She said that the sale will allow College Auxiliary Services to focus resources “on other critical areas to benefit our campus community.”
“Twin Valleys’ legacy will endure through this partnership,” she said. “With CATS’ stewardship, we are confident that the land will continue to inspire hands-on learning and outdoor exploration while helping us achieve a more sustainable future for SUNY Plattsburgh.
“This is not just a sale — it’s a promise that Twin Valleys will remain a place of discovery and connection for students, faculty and the broader community for years to come.”
For more information, contact College Auxiliar Services, 518-564-2035, email [email protected] or visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/college-auxiliary-services/index.html.
For more information about Champlain Area Trails, call 518-962-2287, email [email protected] or visit www.champlainareatrails.com.
— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs
— Photo Provided
