Ray Lake Forest Preserve to add 20-acre Wagner property

The Lake County Forest Preserve District is expected to expand its holdings with the acquisition of 20 acres in Fremont Township.

Members of the forest board's land preservation and acquisition committee on Monday agreed to recommend the purchase for $600,000 of what is known as the Wagner property at the southwest corner of Erhart Road and Fremont Center Road.

The property would become an addition to the Ray Lake Forest Preserve, which has a 2.7-mile gravel trail around wetlands and prairies that includes three boardwalks and a scenic overlook. The commission determined the purchase would fit the goals of adding to existing preserves, preserving native wetlands and protecting against flooding.

Executive Director Ty Kovach told the panel the original offer was $25,000 an acre, but the negotiated price was $30,000 an acre.

“This is a great addition to Ray Lake. It will really help us square things off,” Kovach said.

Commissioner Diana O'Kelly, who also serves as Fremont Township supervisor, said Frank Wagner died several months ago but told relatives he wanted the property to go the forest preserve district.

The property includes a home, two Quonset hut-style buildings and another structure that will be demolished, as they have no purpose or significant historic value, according to information provided to the panel.

The land that comprises the Ray Lake Forest Preserve was acquired by the Ray family in 1958 for breeding and raising pure bred Angus beef cattle. The herd grew to 400 but the last of the cattle were sold by 1976. After the death of Edward Ray, the land was leased for soybean farming until 1999 when it was purchased by the forest preserve district. The original Ray Lake Farm cattle statue remains atop a stone tower to greet visitors as they enter, according to the district website.

The board's finance committee will consider the purchase Thursday, and the full forest preserve district board is scheduled to vote on the land buy Nov. 11.