Spy Rock Road

The US Forest Service and Andrew Pickens Ranger District of Sumter National Forest work closely with local non-profits like Naturaland Trust to continue to protect properties within the boundary of the National Forest. We keep our eye on opportunities to strengthen public lands and as a small non-profit we are often in a better position to act quickly when properties come on the market.

The 22-acre Spy Rock Road tract is what the Forest Service calls a “critical inholding,” which means that it is an island of private land surrounded by National Forest. It was owned by a local family and their preference was to see the property protected forever. Occupying both sides of Spy Rock Road, the tract contains important headwaters of the Chauga River and a hardwood forest. Our goal was to buy the property and then transfer it to the USFS. Since a transfer to the federal government was the end goal, we could not use our normal grant funding entities. Fortunately, we were able to purchase the property utilizing donated funds from an anonymous conservation-minded resident. That donation allowed us to hold the property for two years until the Forest Service was able to reimburse us in 2020. With the property now transferred to the US Forest Service, those funds can be allocated to new projects. 

We are constantly blown away by the sense of community and generosity of our supporters and we're proud to put every donated dollar directly towards acquisition costs of properties like this. 

District Ranger, Robbie Sitzlar stated “The Andrew Pickens Ranger District of Sumter National Forest is grateful for the partnership with Naturaland Trust. They acted quickly to purchase and protect the Spy Rock Road property when it came on the market, and held the land until it could be acquired by the Forest. Their commitment to protecting the land and resources in the upstate of South Carolina is evident, and their efforts will ensure additional public access in Oconee County for many years to come.”