Vast Nature Preserve Established Near Lake Lure After Years-Long Effort

Nearly two decades after plans for a massive mountain development collapsed into bankruptcy and fraud, conservationists have secured a major environmental victory near Lake Lure. Conserving Carolina has finalized the purchase of 483 acres of mountain land north of the lake—completing protection of a 2,669-acre wilderness area adjoining Chimney Rock State Park.

The newly protected property, now part of the Joel Ridge Nature Preserve, marks the final step in a 16-year effort to safeguard one of the largest remaining private forest tracts in western North Carolina. The preserve connects to the Town of Lake Lure’s Buffalo Creek Park, creating a continuous expanse of protected land that offers exceptional wildlife habitat, clean mountain water, and new recreation opportunities. 

“At the end of the day, we protected about 75% of a state natural area rated excellent for wildlife habitat,” said Rebekah Robinson, Assistant Director for Programs at Conserving Carolina. “This land supports endangered species like the Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander and helps wildlife adapt to climate change.”

A Troubled Past Becomes a Conservation Success

The property was once part of GreyRock at Lake Lure, a 4,000-acre luxury development launched in the early 2000s. The project promised high-end mountain living and preserved green space among hundreds of homesites. But the 2008 recession derailed those plans. The developer went bankrupt, bond payments for infrastructure halted, and the owner, J. Robert Ward, was later charged with fraud and the murder of his wife in Florida.

For years, lot owners faced mounting losses, with unfinished roads and utilities rendering their property nearly worthless. Amid the turmoil, Conserving Carolina saw potential in the undeveloped tracts.

In 2009, the nonprofit acquired 1,525 acres from bankruptcy court, partnering with the Town of Lake Lure to create Buffalo Creek Park—home to the award-winning Weed Patch Mountain Trail, which opened in 2018. Over the following years, the GreyRock Community Association worked with Conserving Carolina to transfer additional land, allowing phased purchases as funding became available.

“The partnership with Conserving Carolina since the bankruptcy has been a testament to goodwill and good neighbors,” said Casey Henderson, a past president of the GreyRock board. “We encourage other landowners with conservable land to explore similar partnerships.”

Funding and Partnerships

The land purchase was made possible through grants from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, the NC Complete the Trails Program, and private donations, including support from the Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation and philanthropists Fred and Alice Stanback.

Conserving Carolina’s work required navigating a web of ownership issues—buying unsold lots, negotiating with individual owners, and working with the association to remove legal covenants that restricted conservation use.

Environmental and Recreational Impact

The Joel Ridge and Buffalo Creek area now protects over 38 miles of mountain streams that flow into Lake Lure and the Broad River, securing clean water supplies for local communities. It also provides essential corridors for wildlife, connecting state park lands to other conserved tracts such as Youngs Mountain and Chimney Rock State Park.

The preserved property features diverse ecosystems—streams, cliffs, and varied forest types—supporting rare wildflowers, butterflies, salamanders, and birds. It also offers sweeping views of Hickory Nut Gorge and opportunities for hiking, biking, and climbing.

Although Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to trails in Buffalo Creek Park in 2024, including major landslides that closed sections of the Weed Patch Mountain Trail, restoration efforts are ongoing. Plans call for about 17 miles of new and restored trails within Buffalo Creek Park and the Joel Ridge Preserve, potentially linking two major state trail systems—the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and the Wilderness Gateway State Trail—each envisioned as over 100 miles long when complete.