Bigelow Preserve is a 36,000-acre state-owned nature preserve in western Maine, in the village of Stratton within Eustis. Created in 1976 to block a proposed ski resort, it protected a broad mountain-and-lake landscape centered on Mount Bigelow and Flagstaff Lake. The preserve takes its name from Mount Bigelow, one of Maine’s highest peaks at 4,145 feet, which was itself named for Revolutionary War patriot Major Timothy Bigelow. He climbed the mountain in October 1775 for observation. The preserve remains significant for its high peaks, expansive natural setting, and the successful effort that prevented development in this part of Maine.