Home / Environment / Smokies Expand: 600 Acres Secured for National Park
Smokies Expand: 600 Acres Secured for National Park
16 May
Summary
- Over 600 acres acquired to join Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Land acquisition is a significant conservation opportunity in 20 years.
- Tract holds historical ties to John Oliver, an early Cades Cove settler.
The Foothills Land Conservancy has successfully acquired the expansive 'Oliver Tract,' a property spanning over 600 acres adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This significant conservation initiative is poised to transfer the land into federal protection, integrating it seamlessly with the existing park boundaries near Townsend and Cades Cove.
This acquisition is lauded as one of the most substantial conservation achievements in the region in approximately two decades, with the last comparable land addition occurring in January 2009. The 'Oliver Tract' is named in honor of John Oliver, a pivotal historical figure and one of the earliest European settlers in Cades Cove.
The conservancy is scheduled to finalize the property acquisition on June 8. A letter of intent has already been secured from the National Park Service, indicating strong support for the tract's future inclusion within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This endeavor underscores a commitment to preserving the ecological integrity and historical narrative of the area.
