The Open Space Institute (OSI) and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) have acquired the 104-acre Peregrine Tract along the southern face of Whiteside Mountain. Permanent protection of the property, which had been approved for development, marks a major victory in longstanding efforts to safeguard one of southern Appalachia’s most scenic and ecologically significant landscapes.
“This acquisition is a triumph for conservation and community,” said Dr. Maria Whitehead, Senior Director of Land at OSI. “By protecting the Peregrine Tract, we are completing a critical piece of the conservation puzzle for the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and the Chattooga Valley. We offer our deepest gratitude to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and to grassroots network of local volunteers and supporters whose unwavering commitment and kindness have turned this inspiring vision into reality.”
Lance Hardin, Executive Director of HCLT, said, “We are deeply grateful to our partners at OSI and for the enduring regional spirit that has made it possible to preserve this area’s extraordinary landscapes. Together, we are continuing a century-long tradition of conservation progress on and around the Plateau. The speed and effectiveness of this project is a testament to what can be accomplished when conservation organizations and dedicated community members unite around a bold vision.”
OSI acquired the Peregrine Tract on December 15, and a second transaction anticipated in 2026 or 2027 will make HCLT the permanent owner. Once their acquisition is complete, HCLT will hold title to the property as a public preserve, guaranteeing that the land will be accessible and protected in perpetuity.
The property lies at the heart of the Whiteside Mountain/Devil’s Courthouse Natural Heritage Area, ranked “Exceptional” by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program—the state’s highest designation for biodiversity and landscape connectivity. From its ridgelines, one can see vast hardwood forests and the sparkling headwaters of the Chattooga River, one of the nation’s first rivers ever designated as Wild and Scenic. Now protected forever, the Peregrine Tract ensures ecological continuity from mountaintop to river valley, safeguarding water quality in the Chattooga River system and preserving one of the most biologically rich ridgelines in the southeastern United States.
Previously permitted for a 28-lot development, with a road, utilities, and subdivision entrance already in place, construction was expected to begin in early 2026 had OSI and HCLT not acted swiftly to conserve the Peregrine Tract. Securing the property for conservation secures the iconic Whiteside Mountain viewshed while preventing erosion and sedimentation in the Chattooga and fragmentation of a critical wildlife corridor. In the coming years, partners plan to restore natural habitats, remove subdivision infrastructure, and create new public recreational access.
The Peregrine Tract is the keystone in a region of national conservation significance. Buttressed on two sides by U.S. Forest Service lands, the tract directly links to the cliffs and forest communities of Whiteside Mountain and the Nantahala National Forest, bridging a vital gap between permanently protected landscapes. Keeping this landscape wild and undeveloped ensures ecological continuity from the mountaintop to the head of the Chattooga, supporting a network of forests and streams that sustain wildlife and water quality, while also bolstering a nature-based economy.
This rugged terrain harbors rare granitic domes, ancient oak-hickory forests, and globally rare species including nesting peregrine falcons, rock gnome lichen, pink-shell azalea, and Hartweg’s locust, in addition to declining species such as roughed grouse and golden-winged warblers. The Peregrine Tract also plays a vital hydrological role: its slopes drain into the Chattooga River system, one of the state’s Outstanding Resource Waters, providing clean water for people, businesses, and wildlife across three states.
With its conservation, the property will also offer new recreation options in a remarkable landscape: it could serve as a key link in the proposed Blue Ridge Connector Trail—a continuous hiking route stretching from Clayton, Ga. to Cashiers, NC—and create new access for rock climbers to Raven Rock on the west side of Whiteside Mountain.
The acquisition was made possible by extraordinary support from a dedicated community of donors. To date, OSI and HCLT have raised $5.9 million toward the total project cost of $8.25 million, and additional funds are needed to complete the project. Donations to support the project can be made through OSI at openspaceinstitute.org/southeast or HCLT at www.hcltnc.org/peregrine.
- Staff Reports