Olsen Barn Background:
The Olsen Barn property is 107 acres of meadow, creek side forest,
and wetland adjacent to Lake Almanor at the eastern entrance to the town of Chester, California. Besides the stunning vistas of Lake Almanor and Lassen Peak, the property is best known for the over 130 year old historic barn. The Olsen Barn property is both environmentally and culturally significant and has long been treasured by the surrounding community.
Save Olsen Barn–Now or Never! The Olsen Barn property appears frozen in time, altered little over the last century, but that could change if the property is not conserved. The property has recently changed hands several times and is again up for sale. Because of the threat that future landowners could diminish wildlife habitat or block public access, Feather River Land Trust secured an agreement in late January 2015 with the owner to purchase the property for permanent conservation and public recreation. Now comes the fun part–raising the money to make this happen.
We have until April 15 to raise the initial $65,000 to secure an option to purchase it. Once we secure the option we will have until October to raise the additional funds. Once the option is in place we gain access to $400,000 in state water bond funding for protecting river parkways. We have raised over $50,000 to secure the option and need a little more help from the Almanor Basin community to raise the remaining few thousand.
We plan to hold a number of events this spring and summer to engage the community and help raise the additional funds needed to make protecting this community treasure forever.
There will be another tour of the Olsen Barn property this Saturday, 28 March, at 1 p.m. Meet at the end of the Causeway on Highway 36 just east of Chester. Parking at the Collins Pines Rail Trail. Co-leaders will be Mike Yost, Ryan Burnett, Greg McIntire and Paul Hardy.