Land Purchased for Vast Nature Preserve Near Lake Lure

View from Weed Patch Trail - by Gordon Tutor

Conserving Carolina has purchased 483 acres of mountain land north of Lake Lure--the last major piece in a 2,669-acre protected wilderness adjacent to Chimney Rock State Park. This land, with its vast unbroken forests and stunning views, will offer extraordinary trails, preserve vital wildlife habitat, and provide clean water flowing out of the mountains. It could even provide the link between two state trails--the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and the Wilderness Gateway State Trail.

Once, there were very different plans for this mountain land--one of the largest swaths of private forestland remaining in Western North Carolina. In the early 2000s it was slated to become an upscale development spanning over 4,000 acres, called GreyRock at Lake Lure. Lots were expensive, offering gorgeous mountain views and the promise that they would be surrounded by protected forests. The plan was to preserve swaths of undeveloped natural areas among the 700 planned houses.

Then, the Great Recession hit and chaos ensued. The developer filed for bankruptcy. The company that had issued bonds for the roads refused to pay, and the owner-developer was arrested for fraud.

For the people who had bought lots, the outlook was bleak. Owners were stranded with no roads to their land and no power lines. The value of their lots plummeted. And there seemed little hope of preserving forests as common land, as promised. More likely, undeveloped land would be split up and sold to pay some of the developer's debts.

Instead, a very different vision has emerged for this land. Conserving Carolina and the GreyRock Community Association saw an opportunity to work together to protect thousands of acres of wilderness--and they worked toward that shared goal for 16 years.

Now, the full 2,669 acres is protected--over half of it as the Town of Lake Lure's Buffalo Creek Park and the rest as the Joel Ridge Nature Preserve, owned by Conserving Carolina.

Rebekah Robinson, Assistant Director for Programs with Conserving Carolina, says, "At the end of the day, we protected about 75% of a state natural area that is rated excellent for wildlife habitat, which is the highest possible rating. We have protected a critical population of Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamanders, which is a state endangered species. We have protected all or nearly all of the Buffalo Creek watershed. And these thousands of acres of forest land are providing corridors so plants and animals can migrate and adapt to climate change."

t was no easy thing to purchase thousands of acres from a subdivided, partially sold, bankrupt development entangled in a fraud case.

First, Conserving Carolina bought 1,525 acres out of bankruptcy court in 2009 and went on to work with the Town of Lake Lure to create Buffalo Creek Park. There, Conserving Carolina built the award-winning Weed Patch Mountain Trail, which opened in 2018.

Meanwhile, the GreyRock Community Association took ownership of much of the remaining acreage, with the goal of transferring the land to Conserving Carolina. Over many years, they held on to the land as Conserving Carolina raised the funds to buy it, in four phases. To achieve their conservation vision, the association conveyed some of the property as a bargain sale, below market rates.

Numerous partners helped to fund the purchase--including pivotal grants from the NC Land and Water Fund for all four phases. For the new addition, funding came from the NC Land and Water Fund, NC Complete the Trails program, Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation, Fred and Alice Stanback, and other private donors.

Buying the land was cumbersome--but worth it for the end goal, Robinson says.

The process involved purchasing batches of house lots--both unsold lots managed by the property owners' association and lots owned by various individuals. Some lots were swapped from areas that would no longer be developed for lots within the reduced development footprint. The association agreed to release property from its covenants and forgave unpaid dues, so the sale could move forward.

Casey Henderson, a member and past president of the board of the association, led the long-running efforts to protect the land. He says, "The partnership with Conserving Carolina since the bankruptcy has been a testament to goodwill and good neighbors with aligned purposes and interests. We couldn't have had a better partner in these conservation efforts and we encourage other organizations with conservable land to contact Conserving Carolina to explore what they might accomplish together."

Through this partnership, the GreyRock owners were able to fulfill the original promise of homes surrounded by undeveloped land--while greatly expanding the conservation benefits.

Now, with 2,669 acres protected, over 38 miles of mountain streams are surrounded by pristine forest, providing clean water that flows into Lake Lure and the Broad River. This large-scale project also goes far to protect mountain scenery surrounding Lake Lure. With its connection to Chimney Rock State Park and closeness to other protected land like Youngs Mountain, it offers vital, connected habitat for wild animals. Its wide variety of natural areas--including streams, seeps, cliffs, and different forest communities--provide homes for rare species that include wildflowers, salamanders, butterflies, and birds.

This land is also home to an expanding trail system. Tragically, just over a year ago, this area was devastated by Hurricane Helene. During this disaster, trails in Buffalo Creek Park, including Weed Patch Mountain Trail, were taken out by multiple landslides. The Town of Lake Lure is still working to reopen these trails.

But even as established trails await reroutes and repairs, new trails are underway. When ready, new and reopened trails in Buffalo Creek Park and the Joel Ridge Nature Preserve will total approximately 17 miles. This includes some trails that allow mountain biking or provide rock climbing access. The new addition to the preserve creates potential for even more trails--including a link between two state trails, the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and the Wilderness Gateway State Trail. Each of these trail systems, when complete, will offer more than 100 miles of connected trails--and the newly protected property creates the potential for them to connect.

Supporting everything from family outings to backcountry adventures, these trails will create opportunities to experience an extraordinary wild landscape.

For more information visit conservingcarolina.org.