Pisgah Forest

On December 18, 2018 four deeds went to record in the Mitchell County, NC courthouse.  Those deeds represent a massive conservation gift, the retirement of all mineral interests in favor of their conservation, to the citizens of Mitchell County, NC and all of our visitors and neighbors. 

In 1951 the Reynolds family of Reynolds Aluminum acquired at public auction the rights to mine all minerals in and under a 58,000 acre tract (90 square miles) of land the comprises over 41% of Mitchell County, NC.  Included in this area is a 20,000 acre portion of the Pisgah National Forest which includes Roan Mountain and its surrounds.  This area has been designated a “Resilient landscape” by The Nature Conservancy and is listed as critical habitat to protect as a result.  Lying within the bounds of the tract are numerous threatened and endangered species, waterways, flora and fauna, as well as hundreds of freeholders who were at risk should the mining rights have been developed.  This portion of Mitchell County is now forever free from the risk of destruction due to the removal of its mineral resources. 

The current patriarch of the Reynolds family, Mr. Randolph N. Reynolds, former Vice Chairman and Executive Officer of Reynolds Metals Company stated, “This is a tremendous opportunity for my family to give back something that will stand forever, providing great enjoyment to the citizens of our country, and establishing permanent protection for the dozens of rare species that reside in this unique portion of the Southern Appalachian mountains.”  He added, “My family is thrilled to protect this distinctive ecosystem for all to come and see. It is an honor to make this gift to the citizens of Mitchell County, N.C.” 

Some of the key elements of the conservation include: 

1. Protection of the 20,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest lands from mining including the rare Red Spruce (Picea Rubens).  Red spruce grows at a slow to moderate rate, lives for 250 to 450+ years, is one of two primary tree types in the southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest, a distinct ecosystem found only in the highest elevations of the “Southern Appalachian Mountains”. A relict of the last Ice Age, this forest type covers just over 100 square miles (260 km2), and is considered the second-most endangered ecosystem in the United States. 
2. Protection of the scenic vistas along the Appalachian Trail which traverses this portion of Roan High Knob (6,286 feet) and Roan High Bluff (6,267 feet) including the “Rhododendron Gardens” at Tollhouse Gap, the largest natural concentration of Rhododendron plants in the world. 
3. Protection of numerous threatened species known to exist in this area including a critical habitat designation for two species: Spruce-fir moss spider – Microhexura montivaga and Appalachian elktoe – Alasmidonta raveneliana, and; 
4. Seventeen (17) vertebrate and invertebrate terrestrial, aquatic, and avian species as well as eleven (11) vascular plants, four (4) non vascular plants, and one (1) Lichen.  (https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/mitchell.htm) 
5. Protection of the waterways and their terrestrial and aquatic inhabitants who would be harmed if this large tract were ever to be opened to mining.  The tract is roughly 90 Square Miles in size and includes hundreds of miles of perennial streams and rivers. 
6. Protection of the scenic and natural beauty of one third of land area within Mitchell County thus protecting the northeastern scenic vistas from the two highest peaks east of the Mississippi,  Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet), the and Mount Craig (6,647 feet), and from Roan Mountain itself.