Posted: Thursday, May 29, 4:15.

"All of this has come together to give us a very special gift for those that are going to come after us," said Lloyd Eagan from the DNR as she opened the ceremonies where the announcement was made official.

Rising 400 feet above the Lodi Valley, the Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area is known for offering one of the best views in the state.

"This is one of the jewels of the ice age trail," stated Bill Welch with the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation.

And, the 55 acre nature retreat has just nearly tripled in size. Don Horton, who could not make it to the official announcement, sold the land so it could be preserved. He was inspired by a man known for his own conservation.

Added Dean Schwarz with the Town of West Point, "Years ago he was working down here in this farm field. Some man came up and approached him. And the guy commented what a beautiful area it was. And that man was Gaylord Nelson."

The 92 acres that Don Horton sold to the park includes much of the Lodi Valley and a lot of land on top of the bluffs.

"My father was born right over here in the farm," said Peter VanNess as he stood on the bluff pointing down below.

The VanNess family came to Wisconsin in the 1840s as the first farmers in the Lodi Valley. They owned this land for years before they gave it to the county.

"It has been in the family and it has always been very important to us," added VanNess. "As a child I spent time up here with my parents. It truly should be a park for the people of Wisconsin."

And for many years it has been. In addition to being labeled a State Natural Area in 1969 it has also been part of the Ice Age Trail since the mid 1990s. And this new land will now allow the trail to expand.

"This is one of the twelve most spectacular scenic spots along the 1000 mile trail," said Welch. "It is our 50th anniversary so it is a nice present for us."

It will take the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation a few years before a final plan will be approved for the area.