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…