This Land, Your Land

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina today announced the gift of 534 acres of land along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

The transfer of the Rose Creek property near Spruce Pine in Mitchell County will eventually allow public access to over a mile of frontage on the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 326 and 328, and about 1.3 miles of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (pictured below), the CTNC says.

The Rose Creek property provides a forested backdrop from the Parkway's Loops Overlook next to The Orchard at Altapass. The land contains nearly six miles of streams, including Rose and Little Rose creeks and their tributaries. Rose and Little Rose creeks are major headwater tributaries of the North Toe River, which supplies drinking water to the town of Spruce Pine.

“This property was definitely worth protecting. It has beautiful views of the Parkway, miles of pristine headwater streams, a key segment of the Overmountain Victory Trail, and abundant habitat for wildlife,” said Reid Wilson, CTNC’s executive director.