Archived Outdoors

Land trust celebrates 100 properties conserved

Many Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust properties are located in the Cashiers Valley. Donated photo Many Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust properties are located in the Cashiers Valley. Donated photo

Conservation of six new places last year brought Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust to a landmark total of 100 conservation projects completed, totaling 3,320 acres. 

protected properties include:

  • An expansion of Ravenel Park thanks to a donation of Sunset Rock property from the Hartman family. 
  • A 22-acre property called Sassafras Gap Farm — which is on the edge of the Blue Valley, has a stunning view of Satulah Mountain and buffers the Nantahala National Forest — donated by Stell Huie.
  • Castor Meadows, a small, old farm in the Glenville community that includes beaver wetland and early successional habitat, donated by John Berteau. 
  • Dendy Orchard Knob, a small conservation easement donated by Ken Nimmons buffering the Nantahala National Forest in the Turtle Pond community. 
  • Cedar Hill, a 44-acre conservation easement on the eastern side of Rock Mountain in Cashiers, overlooking Sapphire Valley. It protects rare species and habitats, and adds to other HCLT-protected lands. 
  • High Knob, a 150-acre conservation easement donated by Patrick Horan and Noel Thurner near Caney Fork and protected in partnership with the Open Space Institute. It protects a climate-resilient landscape that provides critical habitat for plants and animals affected by climate change and connects a large swath of other protected lands in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. 

To learn how to preserve family land or become a member of HCLT, contact 828.526.1111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.