Fundo Los Leones       Your outdoor adventure tucked away in Chile!    Background Property History The property was originally homesteaded and cleared by a Chilean citizen back in 1930s. Times in the area would have been very remote and dangerous. Years later, Douglas Tompkins and his wife started exploring the Chilean Patagonia being some of the first people to traverse certain rivers and mountain ranges in kayak or by foot. Douglas Tompkins and his wife were co-founders of the clothing lines, Espree, Patagonia and Northface. After years of travel throughout all of Chile they decided to buy Los Leones as their own private getaway saying it encompassed everything beautiful about Patagonia they had observed over the years. They spent quite a bit of time and money turning the property in to a total organic environment with its grazing operations, fruit and vegetable production as well as honey. Additionally they improved the lay of the land, worked with the government to put in a brick paved landing strip for easier access and for use by the local fishing village and they built a compound of guest cabins that are currently in use. In the last ten years or so the Tompkins have taken their wealth and begun the Patagonia Land Trust whose purpose is to acquire millions of acres of private lands to National Public Parks, most recently Pumalin and the Corcovado National Park, two projects just north of Los Leones. Because of their many grander projects in Chile and Argentina they decided to sell Los Leones. Jeff Wells and Craig Shirk had been looking all over Chile and had considered other properties but when they saw Los Leones and its long term potential they acquired the property through a newly formed Chilean company in December 2005 called Ganadera Fundo Los Leones, Limited. Since then Jeff and Craig have been managing the budget and improving the existing infrastructure by remodeling the existing buildings, adding two storage buildings, improving the runway and beaches and putting in internet capabilities for communication. They also acquired a boat that they are remodeling. They have also begun to develop a tourism plan and have explored the many fishing and eco-sighting opportunities that the area has to offer. They have spent time with the staff to reorient their management focus to tourism and have improved ways of getting products and services to the property.