Tri-Lot Forest and Sugarbush

Farm Description

Tri-Lot Forest represents an affordable timber and/or sugarbush opportunity with attractive species composition, productive soils, good access, and a diameter distribution which supports cash flow and product shifting over the next 20 years. Investment highlights include: a species mix dominated by sugar maple, red maple, yellow birch and beech; high stocking and middle-aged overstory providing immediate income from thinning operations; asking price at 85% of Capital Timber Value; secure access with roadside power; possible sugarbush opportunity with 15,000 or more potential taps on east and south-facing slopes with reasonably good sap-flow conditions; an additional 9,000 potential taps over the next 10-30 years.

Tri-Lot Forest is located in a scenic part of northern Vermont the Green Mountain Range and the spine of the Cold Hollow Mountains. The property’s center is defined by mostly gently sloping terrain with a series of scenic beaver ponds along the stream which flows through the land. The eastern section of the forest has mostly moderate sloping terrain with a tight valley between two high points. West of the ponds, the land steadily rises and has moderate to, at times, steep terrain. The steep sections generally occur in short widths with operable old trails traversing through, or adjacent to, the steep terrain runs. The southern part of the property has a ridge where the terrain wraps around the height of land.

A species composition dominated by hardwoods prevails, with hardwoods at 92% and softwoods at 8% of total volume. Species composition for all products combined offers a favorable mix and is led by sugar maple, followed by yellow birch, American beech, and red maple, with other common hardwoods, spruce/fir and hemlock. This species composition is well suited as part of a long-term timber investment, with solid markets regionally and into Quebec.

Forest stocking is generally overstocked on most of the acreage. The property-wide Capital Timber Value (CTV) is The property also offers a potential sugarbush opportunity, given the level of maple stocking, slope factor, access and proximity to electric power.

A conservation easement on the property will be held by the Vermont Land Trust (VLT). A principal objective of the easement’s commercial acreage is to maintain, grow and harvest forest resources and products on a sustainable basis. The terms of the easement prevent subdivision and future development of any kind; however, forestry and sugarbush operations, and construction of associated support infrastructure, are permitted. The entire property is open to non-vehicular public recreation and hunting and one camp structure of 800 ft2 is permitted.