The Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area consists of 4800 acres of rolling foothills land donated by Ann and Sandy Cross for the protection of wildlife habitat and conservation education. Located just southwest of the City of Calgary off Highway 22X, the Area is open to hikers by appointment only. Call 931-2042 to book a visit. HISTORY Sandy Cross, the son of one of the Calgary Stampede ’s “Big Four” A.E. Cross,and Helen Rothney Macleod, started purchasing land south of Calgary in 1945 for what would become Rothney Farm and eventually the Conservation Area. In 1987 Ann and Sandy Cross donated nearly 2,000 acres of their land to the Province of Alberta. At the time it was the largest private land donation in Canadian history and The Nature Conservancy of Canada operated the Area. In 1991 a fund raising campaign raised two million dollars to build the education centre, Belvedere House, and establish a management fund for program and facility operation. In 1996 Ann and Sandy Cross donated an additional 2,800 acres of land to bring the total size of the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area to 4,800 acres or 7.5 square miles. In 1996 the Sandy Cross Conservation Foundation was created to manage the newly enlarged Conservation Area and another two million dollars was raised to increase the management fund. About |  At a Glance |  Contact |  Map |  Sponsors