Conserving Carolina's 21-acre purchase is potential addition to Buffalo Creek Park

Staff reports
·3 min read

According to a news release, Conserving Carolina based in Hendersonville has purchased 21 acres of mountain land on the north side of Lake Lure as a potential addition to Buffalo Creek Park and the site of a future trail in the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail system.

This property is part of the land needed to link Weed Patch Mountain Trail with Youngs Mountain Trail, the release said.

A stream is seen in part of the addition to Buffalo Creek Park.
A stream is seen in part of the addition to Buffalo Creek Park.

“This land purchase moves us one step closer to fulfilling the vision of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail — an ambitious 100-plus mile network of sustainable, well-maintained trails, showcasing the beautiful views and unique natural features of the Hickory Nut Gorge," Kristin Cozza, the trails and greenways coordinator with Conserving Carolina, said in the release. "We are grateful to the many local partners and private landowners working with us to achieve this vision.”

Cozza said the property on the edge of the growing Town of Lake Lure was "an attractive site for development." She said its exceptional conservation values led Conserving Carolina to prioritize this land as a place for conservation and outdoor recreation.

A view near the top of Youngs Mountain Trail.
A view near the top of Youngs Mountain Trail.
A view from Weed Patch Mountain Trail
A view from Weed Patch Mountain Trail

The land adjoins the 1,525-acre Buffalo Creek Park, which is traversed by the scenic Weed Patch Mountain Trail. The forested property also borders Buffalo Creek and provides clean water for this headwater stream that flows into Lake Lure. Additionally, a portion of the land lies within a state-designated natural area with exceptional biodiversity, the release said.

The Town of Lake Lure is interested in potentially adding this property to its Buffalo Creek Park —a vast local park where hikers and mountain bikers can enjoy a convenient loop trail or venture further into remote mountains, arriving at breathtaking views of exposed rock faces in Chimney Rock State Park.

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Buffalo Creek Park currently spans 1,527 acres, which was originally purchased by Conserving Carolina from the downsized Grey Rock development, where Conserving Carolina continues to acquire land for conservation. Conserving Carolina built the award-winning Weed Patch Mountain Trail through this mountain landscape.

To the East, Conserving Carolina and the Town of Lake Lure have protected 437 acres on Youngs Mountain, where Conserving Carolina opened Youngs Mountain Trail in 2021. The vision for the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail, which Conserving Carolina is spearheading, is to link Weed Patch Mountain Trail and Youngs Mountain Trail as part of a loop that travels all the way around Lake Lure.

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The newly-protected 21 acres is part of the land necessary to link these two trails, although further land purchases will be needed, the release said. The property was purchased with funding from the N.C. Complete the Trails Fund, which is administered by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation.

“Congratulations to Conserving Carolina on this acquisition that utilizes their recent Complete the Trails Program grant,” said Jeff Michael, deputy secretary for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in the release. “Leveraging the support of local partners like Conserving Carolina was one of the legislature’s objectives when it funded the Complete the Trails Program in 2021, and it is gratifying to see this progress towards completing the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. We look forward to the continued success resulting from this partnership.”

Dana Bradley, the parks, recreation and trails Coordinator for the Town of Lake Lure said the town is excited about the land being acquired by Conserving Carolina.

"This is a great step towards connecting more trails within the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail corridor. It also creates the potential to expand the current trails at Buffalo Creek Park, create new trails, and increase opportunities for visitors to access this beautiful trail system," she said in the release.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Purchase near Lake Lure is potential addition to Buffalo Creek Park