Help us protect 638 acres along the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

Help us protect 638 acres along the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! image

This is a rare opportunity!

For more than 40 years, Foothills Land Conservancy has worked with landowners, communities, and partners to protect the lands that define the Southern Appalachian region. Together, we have helped conserve more than 200,000 acres across Tennessee and the Southeast.

The Oliver Tract offers a chance to add another extraordinary chapter to that legacy.

This property:

  • Protects 638 acres of contiguous forestland adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Preserves wildlife habitat, scenic viewsheds, and water resources
  • Helps maintain the rural character and natural beauty of Townsend
  • Prevents future fragmentation and incompatible development
  • Creates a pathway for permanent protection through the National Park Service
  • Large, intact tracts bordering the Park are increasingly rare. Once lost, they cannot be replaced.

Funds raised during this phase will help offset carrying costs, due diligence expenses, title work, surveys, environmental review, stewardship planning, and other project costs associated with protecting the property while it is held by Foothills.

Your Impact - Every contribution helps move this land closer to permanent protection. Whether you give $100 or $100,000, your support helps:

  • Protect important wildlife habitat
  • Preserve the character of Townsend and the Peaceful Side of the Smokies
  • Expand the conservation landscape surrounding the National Park
  • Create a lasting legacy for future generations

We hope you will consider making a donation today! Together we can protect this land forever.

Levels of support:

  • Friend of the Oliver Tract — $25 (or any amount)
    Every gift helps protect this land.
  • Conservation Partner — $1,000
    Supports the carrying costs needed to protect the land during transition
  • Smokies Guardian — $5,000
    Helps cover due diligence, title, and survey work.
  • Landscape Protector — $10,000
    Supports major project costs tied to acquisition and stewardship.
  • Leadership Gift — $25,000+
    Helps anchor the campaign and move the project forward.

Questions about this project?

For information about the Oliver Tract Project, major gifts, stock transfers, donor-advised funds, or planned giving opportunities, please contact:

Mark Stevans, Executive Director at Foothills Land Conservancy

mstevans@foothillsland.org | 865-801-0552