Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area (BTCA) History
The BTCA is a 93-acre natural area with three access points and a signed trail system.
Locally known as Racoon Hill, the bluff is entirely surrounded by 1970s, 80s, and 90s residential neighborhoods and Twin Bluff Middle School. Until the city grew up around the bluff, it was mostly owned by one large property owner and for many years maintained as a natural open space with a managed forest.
The Red Wing School District property, where Twin Bluff Middle School is located, owns much of the south facing prairie bluff side that abuts the BTCA and has an excellent example of Dry Bedrock Bluff Prairie and some degraded Oak Savanna.
The bluff top area provides scenic vistas of the neighborhoods and river valley with unique natural species such as rare American Chestnut trees, a special concern plant species called the Bladderpod, and a state special concern insect species called Leonard’s Skipper.
BTCA in the 1990s.
In the early 1990s, the main property owner, Mildred Billings, began considering selling the property and the City of Red Wing and neighbors became involved, convincing her to complete a partial donation of the property.
In mid 1990s, two Natural and Scenic Area grants were provided to the City to help acquire 87 acres. Residents and organizations provided matching funds for the grants. Six more acres were donated by generous property owners. With the help of the Minnesota Land Trust, a permanent conservation easement was placed on the property.
The BTCA Today.
Since the creation of the BTCA, community involvement has been instrumental in improving and maintaining the area. The trail system has been maintained, and signed, largely with volunteer commitments. The City and School District have been involved with prairie management projects and Friends of the Bluffs has a long term commitment to provide volunteers to work at buckthorn removal.
In 2024, Friends of the Bluffs committed funding to improve the stair system that provides access to the trails from Twin Bluff Middle School in order to make it safer and more sustainable.