History

In 2021, Stillpoint Martha’s Vineyard, Inc., founded by Thomas Bena, became a nonprofit organization, dedicated to educational offerings.

In 2022, Ms. Claudia Miller, who had transformed her 52-acre, 13-lot West Tisbury subdivision into a magical place to walk, be quiet, and enjoy nature, offered to sell 40 acres of it to Stillpoint and the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank at a greatly discounted price.

Working with a team of generous donors, Stillpoint secured a $3.5-million donation and a $2.3-million mortgage to purchase 14 acres and a state-of-the-art barn. Stillpoint offered walking and parking easements to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, making it possible for it to acquire 26 acres. The parcels are situated in between the Polly Hill Arboretum, the Francis Newhall Woods Nature Preserve, and Seven Gates Farm.

In 2022 and 2023, Stillpoint successfully completed the 16-month permitting process with the Martha's Vineyard Commission and the West Tisbury Zoning Board of Appeals. On October 2, when the appeal period ended, Stillpoint began to fundraise for the capital improvements required to bring the barn up to the standards of the commercial building code. 

In 2023 and 2024, Stillpoint received a $1-million grant to pay off part of the mortgage and raised $500,000 for capital improvements and another $168,000 for basic operational expenses.

In 2024, Stillpoint widened the entrance off of State Road and installed a new denitrifying septic system, new well, emergency exits, two egress walkways, a parking loop, and two new restrooms. We also hired Allison Simon to work as the Assistant Director.

Latest Update

December 2, 2024

Currently we are finishing the punch list items and hoping to open any day now!