The Open Space Institute and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust announced the acquisition of 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. 

OSI acquired the Peregrine Tract on Dec. 15, and a second transaction anticipated in 2026 or 2027 will make HCLT the permanent owner. Once the 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.

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.

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.

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, Georgia, to Cashiers — 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 hcltnc.org/peregrine.