In the early 1980’s, Paul and Jan Sahler moved to New Hampshire looking for the ideal spot to live and continue raising their family. A realtor brought them to the Mt. Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee area and they began searching among the mountains, lakes, woods and streams for an ideal building site on several acres. They found their perfect spot on a 23.4-acre, primarily forested, parcel of land on Kearsarge Mountain Road in Wilmot.
The land allowed the Sahlers to build the house they desired and open up views to King Ridge and Mount Sunapee. They later constructed two ponds, joined by a seasonal stream, that they periodically stock with trout. Frogs and peepers and numerous songbirds create a beautiful chorus in the spring and summer.
In 1999, the Sahlers had a selective logging project completed in the woodlands and they continue to maintain the remaining logging road that extends back to Cascade Brook. This and some additional side trails now provide cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and pleasant hiking paths that offer opportunities to observe deer, coyote, bear, moose, numerous birds and other wildlife.
The property is adjacent to or near over 3,918 acres of conserved land including the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests’ Waite and Spearman easements and the Mt. Kearsarge New Hampshire State Forest. It is listed in the Wildlife Action Plan as "Highest Ranked Habitat in NH."
After years of enjoying the property and the westerly views of Mt. Sunapee and King Ridge, the Sahlers determined that they didn’t want to lose these assets to future development or subdivision. In 2007, they contacted The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust to begin conversations about land conservation and, in 2014, they placed an easement on their property that will protect it forever. This property represents the first Ausbon Sargent protected property in Wilmot and will be open to the public for low impact, non-motorized, non-wheeled, pedestrian access. Funding support for the survey of the Sahler's 21.4-acre easement came from the Quabbin to Cardigan and Wilmot Conservation Commission partnerships.