A Success Story
     by Tom Alexander, President, Cataloochee Ranch

Linda and Jane at Cataloochee Ranch

My sisters and I, the Alexanders, inherited the thousand-acre Cataloochee Ranch upon which we grew up. Over 5,000 feet in altitude and adjoining the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ranch includes lush woodlands, glorious mountain meadows, and one of the few remaining "balds," or ancient mountain-top grassy ecosystems, that have long graced the Southern Appalachians.

By the early 90's, we knew of phenomenally escalating local land prices, due largely to the region's attractiveness for second homes. The ranch's appraised value doubled in a few short years and would no doubt climb higher. We had no interest in selling, but our heirs would face increasingly insurmountable pressures to sell.

Completely open and undeveloped, with 240-degree vistas over hundreds of miles of the Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, Hemphill Bald is Cataloochee Ranch's favorite destination. We were reluctant to give up summertime cattle grazing, which maintains the bald's open quality.

I learned that the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy had been protecting the stunning Roan Highlands since the early 1970's, and had lately begun expanding its efforts in other mountain locations. I was gratified to learn that the Conservancy had no problem with cattle-grazing. SAHC recognizes that human interaction with outdoor beauty is a legitimate conservation aim.

The appraised value of the 220 acres of Hemphill Bald that found its way into the easement was reduced by 73% - well over half a million dollars. Now we are trying to agree on which other of our 1,000 acres to put into a conservation easement.