NORTH ADAMS -- The city is poised to become a destination for hikers, as the Berkshire Natural Resources Council has recently completed its acquisition of 750 acres of ridge line along the Hoosac Range, spanning from the Wigwam Western Summit to the Savoy Mountain State Forest.

"We now have over 10,000 linear feet of ridge line, offering multiple views along the Hoosac Range, which offers spectacular views and hiking opportunities," Narain Schroeder, acting president of Berkshire Natural Resources Council, said Wednesday. "While there are currently no improved trails on property, we hope to work with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to develop a first rate hiking trail, with the trailhead located near the Wigwam Western Summit." On Monday, the group finalized a purchase of 97 acres from Mary Claire Walden for $97,000. The Walden property was the last piece of the puzzle for the council, which purchased the Wigwam Western Summit gift shop, cabins and about 37 acres of land from Stephen and Karen Andrews at the end of April for $470,000.

"This all started in 2007 with the purchase of two parcels of land through bankruptcy from the Adelphia Cable Corp., which featured terrific mountainside land with beaver ponds at high elevations and great views," Schroeder said. "We planned on owning these two parcels as standalone conservation parcels, but then we looked to the south and the north of us and realized there was only one piece of land between our holdings and Spruce Hill in the Savoy Mountain State Forest."

After purchasing 147 acres from the J.W. Kelly Corp. in December 2007, the group then set its sites northward, purchasing land from Timothy Caffrey of San Antonio, Texas, along with Michael Deep and West Shaft Realty Trust in the last year.

"We thought how great it would be to get out to Route 2 and thought that it could be a long-range vision, that maybe someday we'd get there," he said. "We started approaching the land owners along the ridge and to our great encouragement, they were interested. The project began to take shape and we began to feel our dream was not so wild and impossible." Schroeder added, "With so many multiple owners to work with, it could have fallen apart at any time and stopped us from connecting all of the parcels. On Monday our dream became a reality."

Mayor John Barrett III said he believes the council's plans will not only preserve spectacular views and create a destination for hikers, but also lend itself to a nice partnership between the private and public sectors.

"When I talked to their president, Tad Ames, several months ago about their plans for up there, we had discussed the purchase of the Wigwam and the city's desire to involve the private sector to keep part of it on the tax rolls," he said. "I think what they are doing will be a tremendous entrance to the city."

Schroeder said the council is quietly discussing a partnership, but that plans for the gift shop and cabins have not been finalized.

"We have an agreement in place with the current shop owners that allows them to remain in the house and gift shop through the end of September," he said.

Stephen Andrews, who has owned the Wigwam with his wife Karen for the last five years, said the couple would remain in the area, but was still trying to decide what their next move would be. Karen, a native of Hawaii, spends the winters there with family.

"We do know that we'll be liquidating our inventory sometime in June or July," he said.

For the resource council, the final land acquisitions presents a unique conservation effort that will offer access to a remote area that has been closed to the public.

"The climb from the Wigwam to the top of the ridge line is about 1/2 an hour," Schroeder said. "From there, one can hike all the way from Route 2 to Spruce Hill in Savoy. The views are amazing."

The council is also negotiating a conservation restriction for the 750 acres, preventing any future development on the land including wind turbines. Much of the land falls just west of ridge line in Florida and Monroe, where 19 windmills are proposed as part of the long delayed Hoosac Wind Project. The restriction would remain in place even if the land was sold in the future.

"Our goal is a goal of public access for recreational purposes, not for energy production," Schroeder said.