Scenic Hudson purchases 102 acres of Mount Merino to save Olana’s view

GREENPORT — In a continuing effort to protect the view from the Olana State Historic Site, Scenic Hudson has acquired 102 acres of land on the summit and along the ridge of Mount Merino, the organization announced Friday.

“With historic sites like Olana, it is of great importance that their historical context is protected,” Scenic Hudson’s Land Conservation Director Seth McKee said, citing examples of other historic sites surrounded by malls and other developments.

“We are just thrilled with the purchase,” Sara Griffen, president of the Olana Partnership told the Register-Star, nothing that the views from the historic site are just as important as Church’s house itself, and the surrounding landscape.

Mount Merino is one of Olana’s most important views, Griffen explained, as it was painted by members of the Hudson River School of art.

“(Mount Merino) is one of the most prominent natural features surrounding Olana,” McKee said. “It’s a huge part of the north view.” He added that views from Olana’s newly-restored Ridge Trail look right at Mount Merino.

In a prepared statement, Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said, “Olana is one of the valley’s crown jewels, in large part because of its vistas, which are among the region’s most breathtaking.”

The land was acquired as part of Scenic Hudson’s “Save the Land that Matters Most” campaign, which focuses not only on Olana but on areas throughout the Hudson Valley. Sullivan said the campaign meant to ensure that future generations will be able to ensure the same views that visitors to the region have enjoyed for hundreds of years.

“That’s the core of what we are there for,” Griffen said, adding that visitors who arrive at Olana should be “transported to another century.

“We’re so grateful to Scenic Hudson for their continued focus on Olana’s viewshed,” Griffen said. “It’s been a high priority for them for many years.”

Linda McLean, director of the Olana State Historic Site, is also pleased with the purchase. “The work Scenic Hudson is doing is not only good for Olana, it’s good for the community and the general area,” she said in a prepared statement. “I applaud Scenic Hudson’s work to support generations to come.”

The land is the largest undeveloped parcel on Mount Merino, according to a press release. Before the purchase, Scenic Hudson was protecting 122 acres on Mount Merino, and 1,248 acres total.

“This includes lands that are working farms and orchards,” McKee said. Though the Mount Merino parcel was purchased outright, McKee explained that many of the lands are preserved through conservation easements, which puts a restriction on development of the property, which remains in private ownership.

“A fair bit of the land conserved at Olana has been through conservation easement,” he said. Scenic Hudson often works with the Columbia Land Conservancy on these efforts.

Griffen took a moment to explained how the agencies determine which views to protect. “We try to be strategic in terms of what views to protect and what we don’t have to,” she said. “A computer analysis tells us what areas are most important and we focus on those.”

McKee feels that preserving Olana’s historic context will boost tourism in Columbia County. As development in the region continues, “the places that we are conserving Olana will become more unique and special.”