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Squatter Claims Pristine Island for 9 Years
25 Jan
Summary
- Man claims adverse possession of undeveloped island near Boise.
- Legal battle has been ongoing between the man and the city for nearly nine years.
- State has officially granted ownership of the disputed land to the city of Boise.
A 2.78-acre island near Boise's Warm Springs Golf Course, dubbed 'the land that time forgot,' has been the subject of a nearly nine-year dispute. Christopher Burdge, 72, began claiming adverse possession in 2017, living on the island for eight summers and two winters, asserting it was undeveloped wilderness.
Burdge's claim led to a legal drama with the city. He initiated a federal lawsuit in July, alleging harassment. In October 2025, the State Board of Land Commissioners granted the land to the city of Boise, identifying it as accreted land that was once submerged.
Despite the state's decision and the city's current official ownership, Burdge continues his legal pursuit. He previously faced charges for a fire allegedly caused by his camp stove on the island in June. The legal complexities of adverse possession in Idaho, with its 20-year requirement since a 2006 law change, present significant hurdles for Burdge's claim.
