Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP), the nonprofit that created and maintains the Whitefish Trail, has purchased the former Whitefish Bike Retreat property.  

The 35-acre parcel north of Whitefish in the Beaver Lakes area will be home to the new Whitefish Legacy Center.  

The former Whitefish Bike Retreat opened in 2013, changed hands in 2021 and was listed for sale in April 2024.  

Appraised at about 2.2 million, the property was set to be sold to a modern camping company who had plans to create a high-density 90-plus unit site, when the deal fell through, according to WLP. 

WLP describes their purchase as strategic in that it both prevents development and honors the community’s long-held commitment to open lands, recreation and outdoor education.  

“The Whitefish Legacy Center is so much more than a place—it’s an investment in the character, culture, and future of our valley and the Whitefish Trail,” said Heidi Van Everen, executive director of WLP.  

“WLP’s vision will reflect the spirit of the community and continue our commitment as a trusted steward of local lands. We are building a new home for community connections and shared experiences—in one warm, welcoming outdoor place.” 

The Whitefish Legacy Center is scheduled to open summer 2026. 

The property’s main residence, lodge, campsites and amenities will be repurposed to improve public access and expand outdoor programming.

Surrounded by the 1,520-acre parcel of Montana School Trust lands conserved by WLP in 2014, the property offers direct access to the 47-mile Whitefish Trail system, and WLP plans to establish a new trailhead. 

The generous support of legacy donors made the purchase possible.  

“It is inspiring for Summerfield and me to support an organization that so successfully protects our community’s character, our surrounding landscapes, and the recreation amenities and stewardship ethos that are essential to our way of life,” said Julie Baldridge, longtime donor and WLP board member. 

Reid Sabin, WLP board chair, said the creation of the Whitefish Legacy Center comes in an already big year for the organization.  

“We are continuing our work to permanently protect lands and expand trails at the head of Whitefish Lake, and to improve connectivity from the Holbrook Overlook Trailhead in partnership with the Flathead National Forest and Whitefish Mountain Resort, bringing us ever closer to closing the loop of the Whitefish Trail,” Sabin said.  

The purchase is a celebratory victory for WLP as well as a productive alternative after Smith Lake conservation plans were put in jeopardy earlier this year, when a DNRC parcel of land north of Whitefish Lake was reappraised with a multi-million-dollar increase.

As fundraising and renovations get underway for the Whitefish Legacy Center, WLP will share more information about community access and programming in late spring 2026.  

To learn more see www.whitefishlegacy.org or contact a WLP staff member.