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St. Maries – The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) sold an endowment parcel of land at public auction in Benewah County on October 2, 2025. The land was held in trust for the School of Science Endowment Beneficiary.
The property, known as the Pierce Creek parcel, is about 6.7 acres and is located approximately 2 miles south of Fernwood, Idaho. Only one bidder participated and the property was sold for the appraised price of $60,000.
A second 6.5-acre parcel of land north of Fernwood, known as the Wilson Mountain parcel, was auctioned, did not receive any bids and did not sell.
Due to the location of the parcels, the land was becoming more difficult to manage for timber. It was determined the highest and best use was to reclassify them as residential, which allows IDL to dispose of the land to maximize returns for the endowments to which they belong.
The Idaho Constitution requires a public auction for the sale of state endowment trust lands, and IDL can accept no less than the appraised value of the properties.
Upon transactions closing, funds from land sales are deposited in the “Land Bank” and may be used to purchase new endowment land in Idaho or may go into the Permanent Fund to continue earning returns for the endowment beneficiaries.
Individual Lot Information
Links to photos and detailed information about each lot as listed on the Idaho Department of Lands Real Estate Auction website:
https://www.idl.idaho.gov/real-estate/state-land-for-sale/
Background
Under the direction of the Land Board, IDL manages 2.5 million acres of state endowment trust land held in trust for nine beneficiaries. The board is under a constitutional mandate to maximize long-term financial returns for the beneficiaries.
In May 2016, the Land Board approved the Strategic Reinvestment Plan allowing for the consideration of strategic land acquisitions with the proceeds from the sale of endowment lands.
Since 2016, IDL has reinvested in approximately 54,000 acres of timberland for the endowments.
The Land Board is comprised of Idaho’s governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state controller, and superintendent of public instruction.
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