Kawartha Land Trust Looking for Ideas to Bring Three Sandy Point Buildings Back to Life

By Scott Arnold

Kawartha Land Trust is looking for businesses, organizations and individuals interested in finding new uses for three vacant buildings at its Hammer Family Nature Preserve on Pigeon Lake.

Kawartha Land Trust is looking for ideas for the future use of three vacant buildings at its Hammer Family Nature Preserve on Sandy Point. (photo courtesy of kawartha land trust)

The land trust has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest as it looks for potential partners who could invest in and make use of the existing buildings while helping maintain the ecological character of the property.

The three buildings are located at Sandy Point in the Municipality of Trent Lakes and include a historic 15-bedroom lodge built by politician and businessman Sir Edward Kemp, along with a log cabin and a house.

KLT says it is open to a variety of possibilities for one or more of the buildings, provided any future use balances human activity with the natural environment at Sandy Point.

The organization is currently looking for information from potential partners that could lead to more detailed proposals and future collaborations. Expressions of interest will be accepted from October 1st, 2026 through January 29th, 2027.

The Hammer Family Nature Preserve is KLT’s largest protected property, covering 1,412 acres along Pigeon Lake. The property includes forests, wetlands, remnant oak savanna, fields and natural shoreline.

The property was permanently protected in 2023 through federal and provincial funding along with support from donors.

KLT plans to use the preserve for ecological protection and restoration, as well as experiential learning opportunities developed with partner organizations. The land trust describes its vision for the property as a “hub” and living lab where people can develop a deeper relationship with the land.

The Request for Expressions of Interest is part of the next stage of planning for the property following two years of community engagement.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Hammer Family Nature Preserve or submitting an Expression of Interest can find the details on KLT’s website.

Kawartha Land Trust is a registered conservation charity celebrating 25 years of community-supported conservation in the Kawarthas. It currently protects 50 properties covering more than 9,100 acres of ecologically significant land in Peterborough County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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