Great Smoky Mountains to gain 600 acres in one of largest deals in decades
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is set to grow by 600 acres following a land acquisition by Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC), a Tennessee-based nonprofit.
FLC recently completed the purchase of the Oliver Tract, a 600-acre property bordering the national park near Townsend, Tennessee, and Cades Cove. The conservancy called it “one of the most significant remaining privately held properties” adjacent to the nation’s most-visited national park.
The tract contains intact forest, wildlife habitat, watershed resources, and landscape connectivity that supports the long-term health of the Smokies ecosystem. It is named for John Oliver, one of the earliest permanent settlers of Cades Cove, linking the land to the cultural history of the region.
“Projects like this define what land conservation is all about,” said Mark Stevans, FLC executive director. “The opportunity to protect more than 600 acres bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park is extraordinarily rare. Thanks to the support of our partners, donors and community, this land will remain protected for future generations rather than being lost to development.”
FLC said the acquisition is one of the largest conservation transactions connected to the park in decades. The nonprofit intends to transfer the property to the National Park Service after the federal review and acceptance process is complete.
“We appreciate Foothills Land Conservancy’s work to protect this landscape for future generations, preserving its rich cultural history as well as the extraordinary biological diversity that makes this area so unique,” said Charles Sellars, Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
