KREX, January 22, 2026- On Wednesday, Colorado West Land Trust (CWLT) announced that a historic 13-acre stone fruit orchard, Mount Hope Orchard, has been permanently conserved.

The property, visible from F1/4 Road and part of the designated Fruit and Wine Scenic Byway, borders the 113-acre Tillman Bishop State Wildlife Area. The easement protects soils classified as Prime Farmland, which is a limited and irreplaceable resource in the county, as well as wildlife that passes through the area.

Mount Hope Orchard was purchased in 2024 by David Tredway and his brothers. Since the purchase, the family has removed aging trees, planted a soil-building recovery crop and transitioned to a modern micro-jet irrigation system, reducing water use.

In spring 2026, the Tredway family plans to plant around 4,500 new peach and apricot trees.

“It’s a really good piece of property for growing peaches. It’s one of those places that doesn’t come up very often, and we wanted to make sure it stayed agricultural,” said Tredway. “There are far fewer orchards today than there used to be, so I think it’s important to conserve them. It’s a beautiful way to keep property productive, and it’s much better than seeing it turned into housing.”

The conservation of Mount Hope Orchard is part of CWLT’s Fruitlands Forever Initiative, which aims to conserve over a thousand acres of fruit-producing land and sustain the fruit economy on the Western Slope. To this date, after four decades, CWLT has worked with over 50 family-owned farms in the East Valley as part of the initiative.

“Working orchards are central to Palisade’s character,” said CWLT Conservation Manager Ilana Moir. “Conserving Mount Hope Orchard helps preserve open views, prime agricultural land, and the working landscape that supports local food production, and the sense of place the community values.”

Overall, the nonprofit has conserved over 150,000 acres of wildlife habitats, agricultural and scenic lands in western Colorado. For more information about CWLT’s work, visit cowestlandtrust.org.

By Breana Sinclair, Read Full KREX Story Here