Susie Peak Forest
Toppin Road : Ira, VT 05777
Rutland County, Vermont
Land Description
Susie Peak Forest is an exceptional Vermont timber investment property with fine northern hardwood stands, older age classes, favorable species composition and a stunning landscape. Set in the southern Vermont towns of Ira and Clarendon, Susie Peak’s maturing, northern hardwood-dominated timber resource has been professionally cultivated for many years, culminating in 2.9 million board feet of quality maple, oak, spruce and ash sawlogs. In addition, the property is one of southern Vermont’s largest unencumbered offerings and is available to the market for the first time in over 25 years.
While its investment value is firmly anchored by an impressive timber resource, the property also includes multiple access points, near-term sugar bush potential approaching 13,100 taps and two lease camps. The property offers prime kingdom lot options with long, upper-elevation views, for those looking to create an accessible weekend estate near the region’s ski centers at Killington, Pico, and Okemo. The property and its surrounding neighborhood are nestled within the northern Taconic Mountains, which are well-known throughout New England for having strong conservation appeal, productive hardwood forest sites and rich ecological significance.
The property’s attractive timber investment qualities include strong site productivity, a high percentage of operable ground, well-drained Taconic soils and a long history of forest management. For kingdom lot buyers, Susie offers a private ridge-top forest estate with big views and several potential home site envelopes tucked privately within its bounds. For those interested in diversifying income through sugar bush development, Susie offers concentrated sugar maple stands with 13,100 gross taps and an opportunity for additional expansion over the coming decades. Long term conservation interest may also surface due to its large footprint and high visibility ridge line.
Based upon the property wide data, Fountains has set Capital Timber Value (CTV) at Susie Peak’s timber resource is anchored by a quality sugar maple component representing 35% of total stocking. Associated species include beech (13%), the birches (12%), red maple (11%), red oak (8%) and red spruce (7%). Diameter distribution at Susie Peak reflects a traditional bell-shaped curve, emblematic of even aged management. The average diameter for all merchantable products is 12.0”.
