Three Waters Reserve

Who We Are

Three Waters Reserve is a mission-driven event center and nature reserve offering private venue rentals, nature-based educational programming and public trails. Owned by a charitable land trust, proceeds from TWR venue rentals support conservation efforts on the property and in the Sugar River watershed. Our team is a dynamic group of ecologists, conservationists, chefs and entrepreneurs bound by a drive to sow purposeful connections and a shared mission for leaving the planet a better place than we found it.

About the Reserve

Three Waters Reserve along with neighboring Avon Bottoms and adjacent conservation lands represent one of the largest floodplain complexes in the region for biodiversity. The dramatic topographic relief and panoramic vistas on the property range from wildflower prairie to majestic oak savanna with century old trees. The reserve is home to several state-threatened plant species, and visitors will share the trails with wildlife like sandhill cranes, red fox, screech owls, flying squirrels, red-headed woodpecker and bobcat. 

Today, more than 80% of Lower Sugar River Watershed is agricultural, making the remaining natural fragments critical to protect. TWR and surrounding preserves and wildlife management areas now comprise over 7,000 acres of conservation lands.

Three Waters Reserve is a privately-owned conservation area. We welcome visitors to enjoy passive nature observation and walking on our public trails.The picturesque landscapes of Three Waters Reserve are breathtaking, and we believe that your appreciation of this special place will only be enhanced by discovering its rich history. From the first settlements to the button boom, to a hot spot of recreation and leisure, time has brought this place back to its original glory of oak savanna, prairie and wetlands.

A Conservation Collective

Three Waters Reserve serves as headquarters for Southern Wisconsin Land Conservancy, the Lower Sugar River Field Station, the Lower Sugar River Watershed Association and the Applied Ecological Institute, making it an important hub for watershed research and education. 

Since purchasing the property, SWLC has developed growing partnerships with other groups and entrepreneurs to expand programming at The Reserve to include science and education and a farm-to-table enterprise with local regenerative farmers and chefs.

Special EVENTs

Located on a 70-acre nature reserve in Wisconsin’s Lower Sugar River Valley, Three Waters Reserve provides a breathtaking backdrop for your special event. The spacious grounds at Three Waters Reserve can accommodate up to 110 guests for outdoor events, and up to 70 guests for indoor events. From summer weddings to company holiday parties, Three Waters Reserve offers beautiful spaces for both indoor and outdoor events. 

Owned by a charitable land trust dedicated to preserving Wisconsin’s special places, every venue rental provides support for conservation efforts.

PUBLIC EVENTS PROGRAMMING

Public events at Three Waters Reserve aim to highlight the critical connection between watershed health, human health, and the quality of our food. Our unique culinary experiences feature wild foraged foods & ingredients sourced from local regenerative farms. 

Join local experts throughout the year for walk and talks at Three Waters Reserve! Plants, birds, trees, mammals, insects, and more there is plenty to learn about and explore here at the Reserve.  To learn more about guided night hikes, nature walks and foraging forays, visit our public events calendar.