Driftless Conservancy buys Wintergreen riverfront land

Hey Trail Lovers, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy out of Dodgeville recently acquired the Wintergreen property near Spring Green. The 245-acre parcel and building can boost of nearly a mile of undeveloped Wisconsin River shoreline. Several wildlife species call Wintergreen home. The property, a former skiing area, has turned back to its natural state, and the former ski lodge was more recently an event center. The property sits 1/2 mile west of Highway 23 on County Road C, south of Spring Green. Jennifer Filipiak, Executive Director, explains that the existing trails will be rehabilitated. Watch a WKOW.com story here.

On adjacent land owned by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy has already developed the 1.1-mile Phoebe Point Trail, which lies directly across the road from the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin homestead. Kevin and I hiked the Phoebe Point Trail in October 2025 and found it delightful, scenic, well-maintained, and full of birds. A well-placed bench at the point overlooks the Wisconsin River Highway 23 Bridge to the northeast and great views of the Wyoming Valley to the south. Below are some photos from the Phoebe Point Trail. Frank Lloyd Wright revered this land, especially the overlook point, and only allowed special friends to visit this trail. Only a half mile from the Phoebe Point Trail at the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center parking lot is the Welsh Hills Trail, also developed by the Conservancy. This 2-mile loop trail is also worth your time as it traverses through wooded hillsides and open prairies of the Driftless. Check out more information on these specific trail under the Driftless Trail link here.

Phoebe Point Trail in the fall

View from Phoebe Point Trail, looking northeast to the Wisconsin Highway 23 Bridge

From the Phoebe Point Trail Overlook

Looking north towards Spring Green from the Phoebe Point Trail