Fundraising Appeal

DOG MOUNTAIN FOREVER!

FODM 2025-26 Update: Friends of Dog Mountain works year-round to sustain Stephen Huneck’s gift to our community. Dog Mountain’s acres of wildflower trails, breathtaking views, dog ponds, whimsical outdoor and indoor artwork, Dog Chapel, and Stephen Huneck Gallery are unique national treasures deserving of our care, protection, and recognition. The sustaining support of local and national organizations, community partners, and friends like you, continue to make our work possible. Please take a moment to consider all you’ve accomplished in previous years simply by being our friend. We hope that you’ll continue on this journey with us as we rebuild from historic flood damage and reach even greater heights in 2026.

Here are some highlights of our work thus far and an overview of some priorities for 2026:

Dog Chapel Restoration:
In 2021, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Dog Chapel and the completion of our successful Give the Dog Chapel Wings Restoration Project. Thanks to supporters like you, the iconic Angel Dog weathervane and Dog Chapel steeple were completely restored, as good as—perhaps better than—new!

In 2023 and 2024, with support from the Freeman Foundation and Preservation Trust of Vermont, we completed major structural repairs to the Dog Chapel’s foundation and exterior. The building is once again safe, sound, and open to all. We continue to make improvements to ensure this beloved building remains accessible and welcoming for generations to come.

Dog Mountain Trails:
Friends of Dog Mountain is steadily working to restore Huneck’s extraordinary body of work, including all the original structures, sculptures, and signage, as well as the literal Dog Mountain grounds. In 2025, we are launched the long-awaited Dog Mountain Trails Enhancement Project, thanks to funding from VOREC and the Northern Forest Center. This project will be completed in 2026 and will restore over three miles of hiking and wildflower trails—including the Blue and Yellow Trails—with improved drainage, better signage, and increased accessibility for all visitors.

Preservation of Stephen Huneck’s Art:
A core element of Friends of Dog Mountain’s mission is the preservation of the artwork of American artist and Dog Mountain’s creator, Stephen Huneck. Stephen Huneck’s distinctive work is featured in permanent collections at the Smithsonian, the American Kennel Club, the Dog Museum of America, and galleries nationwide. His furniture, sculptures, woodcuts, prints, and more can be found in private collections around the world, and his critically acclaimed books, featuring Sally the Black Lab, have captivated readers of all ages.

Friends of Dog Mountain works year-round with your support to honor and sustain this legacy. Most of Huneck’s original wood blocks, sculpture molds, and furniture designs are maintained by Friends of Dog Mountain. In 2024, we began the next phase of our conservation efforts by rehousing and inventorying Stephen’s archives and planning future exhibition upgrades for the Gallery and Barn. We’re currently working with museum consultants and architectural firms to make the Gallery more visitor-friendly, climate-controlled, and accessible.

A Chance to Tell Our Story:
Thanks to a Storytelling Grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, Friends of Dog Mountain hired local filmmakers Alex Shea and Patrick Kennedy to create a short film detailing the history of Dog Mountain. Filmed over a six-month period, the film chronicles the Dog Chapel steeple restoration, annual concerts and Dog Parties, and the 20th Anniversary Celebration. We think the film beautifully captures the spirit of this unique and special place. Watch the film here.

Repairs, Maintenance, and Improvements:
Stephen Huneck considered the entirety of Dog Mountain—the ponds, trails, wildflower fields, vistas, and iconic Dog Chapel—to be his ultimate artistic accomplishment. Friends of Dog Mountain hired experts to develop a campus-wide design and improvements plan. 2024 brought immense challenges when two separate flooding events caused major damage to the grounds and infrastructure. With your support, we’ve stabilized key areas, reopened the Dog Chapel and Gallery, and begun the process of repairing and upgrading our facilities.

In 2025, we repaired the flood-damaged Dog Ponds. In 2026 we will begin a beautification and restoration campaign for buildings, including the Gallery and barn, damaged by weather exposure and back-to-back floods. With some TLC including rot repair and some exterior paint, the beloved structures on our campus will be as vibrant as the community that enjoys them. These efforts are vital to ensuring that Dog Mountain remains resilient, welcoming, and inclusive for all.

Community Outreach and Partnerships:
Dog Mountain has amassed a skilled and dedicated team including the FODM staff and Board of Directors. Friends of Dog Mountain also relies year-round on community partners—including you!—to maintain our mission. Dog Mountain’s longstanding friendship with Catamount Film & Arts is well established, and we are proud to continue hosting the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series in 2026.

How You Can Help:

FODM is grateful and appreciative of donations at all levels throughout the year… especially now, as we recover from flood damage, repair our trails, and preserve the Huneck legacy for future generations. Every donation brings us closer to realizing Stephen and Gwen’s dreams and advancing FODM’s mission.

There are many other ways that you can support Dog Mountain. Please click here to learn more.

Friends of Dog Mountain is a certified nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to discuss any of the information or learn more about FODM, please email our Development Office or call 800-449-2580.