Nature Conservancy Donation

In December 2006, the Nature Conservancy transferred Thousand Springs Preserve to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.  The gift of more than 300 acres of land included: Ritter Island, two miles of riverfront, and scenic springs and falls.  Prior to the donation, the Nature Conservancy had owned Ritter Island since 1986.

Today, Ritter Island is a unit of Thousand Springs State Park.  The island is home to a historic rock house and dairy farm built by businesswoman, Minnie Miller, in the 1920s.  The property also features the largest intact springs found along the Middle Snake River, Minnie Miller Falls.  Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Ritter Island for the Thousands Springs Festival, held the last weekend in September.  The festival includes: artists from surrounding areas, live music, local food specialties, children's activities, and natural history displays. 

The overall goal of the Nature Conservancy was to protect the land and the unique wildlife it supports, while providing a recreation area for the public to enjoy.