Privately Owned Protected Land

If you live in the Upstate, whether you are aware of it or not, you enjoy tremendous benefits from the protection of privately owned land. While some of these properties offer limited public access, other less publicized but no less important benefits include protection of viewsheds from scenic highways or public parks, improvement of air and water quality, habitat for flora and fauna, and the preservation of historic and cultural resources, among others. The conservation agreement, the primary land protection method used by Upstate Forever, is a great tool for the private landowner who wants to save his or her land from the threat of future development while still continuing to own and manage the land. Below are a few examples of the diverse properties whose owners chose to partner with Upstate Forever to ensure their permanent protection.

	Fairview Farms– 1,331 acres – Spartanburg County
	Four Columns – 130 acres – Spartanburg County
	Bowie Tract – 27.5 acres – Pickens County
	Cleveland Tract and Wilson Farms – 858 acres – Greenville County
	Fall Creek Tract – 93 acres – Oconee County
	Timber Creek Farm – 190 acres – Laurens County
	Warrior Mountain – 297 acres – Laurens County
	Greenbrier Farms – 124 acres – Pickens County
	Broad River – 595 acres – Union County
	Firefly Forest – 121 acres – Greenville County
	Double M. Farm – 509 acres – Anderson County
	High Meadows – 1,018 acres – Abbeville County
	Cotton Patch – 403 acres – Polk County, NC

Fairview Farms– 1,331 acres – Spartanburg County
This scenic property near Landrum is the largest protected by Upstate Forever. Fairview Farms is defined by beautiful rolling pasture and almost two miles of frontage on the North Pacolet River. It includes mixed hardwood forests, some of which are old growth and self-replicating, as well as several threatened and endangered species of flora. Owned by a partnership of landowners, Fairview Farms is comprised of residential tracts surrounded by significant common Open Space used for agriculture and equestrian activities. The property even contains a portion of South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail. Fairview Farms is adjacent to Four Columns and both share historic significance as the site of the Battle of Earl’s Ford in the Revolutionary War.

Four Columns – 130 acres – Spartanburg County
This historic tract is home to the Four Columns residence constructed in the early 1800s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Four Columns was also the site of the 1780 Battle of Earle’s Ford, a celebrated Patriot victory of the Revolutionary War. This 130-acre property is adjacent to Fairview Farms and contains close to a mile of frontage on the North Pacolet River. “Marie and I feel more like trustees of this property than owners,” said owner Robert Gregory. “It’s very important to us that this wonderful place remain protected long after we’re gone.”

Bowie Tract – 27.5 acres – Pickens County
This property lies in one of the most historically and ecologically significant places in South Carolina, the Eastatoee Valley. This scenic valley is located in the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment and is renowned for its biodiversity and abundance of many rare and significant native species of flora. Its southern border fronts the Eastatoee River, which is classified as an “Outstanding Resource Water” by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, the highest classification possible in the state. Linda’s family has called the Valley home for seven generations. She says, “Our blood runs deep in these mountain valleys: Eastatoee, Jocassee and Keowee,” and her family history is rich with large land holdings (over 10,000 acres), homesteads and the union of valley families. Through her act of protecting her land, she preserves that rich legacy, and the natural beauty of her home, for the future.

Cleveland Tract and Wilson Farms – 858 acres – Greenville County
When combined, these two magnificent properties make up an 858-acre missing link in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area in northern Greenville County. These twospectacular tracts, adjacent to Jones Gap State Park, contain a stunning array of features and resources, including Headforemost Falls (arguably the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi), rich hardwood forests, diverse wildlife habitat, spectacular views of “Pretty Place” at Camp Greenville, and the pristine Middle Saluda River. Both the Cleveland Tract and Wilson Farms were protected using funds from the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

Fall Creek Tract – 93 acres – Oconee County
This tract is 93-acres of beautiful hardwood forests and mountain wetlands near Long Creek. Fall Creek, for which the property is named, runs through the property along its border with Sumter National Forest and is a significant tributary of the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River. In addition to the property’s ecological value, the Fall Creek Tract also includes the historic Fall Creek Mill. This was the first property protected by Upstate Forever in Oconee County and it was protected with funds from the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

Timber Creek Farm – 190 acres – Laurens County
Upstate Forever’s first conservation agreement in Laurens County was the 190-acre property Timber Creek Farm in Gray Court. This beautiful, rolling tract contains a mixture of pasture and forest and substantial frontage on Warrior Creek. The site also contains an unusual and historic granite quarry that provided much of the stone from which Gray Court’s historic structures were made. Dianne Culbertson, owner, also protected Warrior Mountain nearby, furthering the vision she shares with several neighbors of developing a conservation corridor.

Warrior Mountain – 297 acres – Laurens County
Warrior Mountain is a historically and geologically fascinating property containing a small mountain, known as a monadnock. Because monadnocks stand alone on otherwise flat land, they have tremendous scenic value. The property, which is located in Gray Court, is known locally as the Little Knob, but was officially named Warrior Mountain after colonial-era maps, which refer to it as such. The property is culturally significant to the Cherokee who inhabited this area during colonial times and may have used it as a look-out point and hunting ground. Through the protection of this property, Dianne Culbertson, who also protected Timber Creek Farm, is building on a conservation corridor she and some neighbors are committed to developing to preserve the land they love.

Greenbrier Farms – 124 acres – Pickens County
This 124-acre working farm produces herbicide and pesticide-free “natural meats” to local markets around the Upstate. The cattle at Greenbrier Farms are grass-fed producing a leaner, healthier beef. This parcel is part of a larger working farm, where an additional 117 acres are already protected under a conservation easement through the USDA/NRCS Grassland Reserve Program.  Greenbrier Farms is located in Dacusville and contains frontage on Machine Creek. It was protected by Joyce Palmer and her late husband John. John said, “We did it because we wanted this farm we put so much into to always be a farm. We wanted it to be here in the future to educate people about agriculture and where food comes from. There’s also a peace from spending time here…being on the land gets me through my daily challenges. And there’s a peace in knowing that when we’re gone, this farm will always remain.” Learn more about Greenbrier Farms and their farm products at www.greenbrierfarms.com.

Broad River – 595 acres – Union County
The 595-acre Broad River property got its name from the almost two miles of frontage on one of South Carolina’s most important rivers, the Broad. The property also consists of open fields, mixed hardwood forests, and pines. This property is primarily used for private hunting and was the first property protected by Upstate Forever in Union County.

Firefly Forest – 121 acres – Greenville County
Firefly Forest is a beautiful forested property near Marietta and home to the studio of local ceramicist Don Lewis. Don’s property is also home to a rare species of firefly, Phausis reticulata or the “Blue Ghost” firefly. In late spring, these tiny insects can be found en masse emitting a continuous blue glow, which is often compared to a blanket of soft, blue light. Aside from its firefly population, Firefly Forest is also home to a diverse array of indigenous flora and fauna.

Double M. Farm – 509 acres – Anderson County
This beautiful working farm near Anderson produces all-natural, grass-fed, pesticide and herbicide-free beef. Double M. has been owned and operated by the same family for six generations and contains considerable frontage on Lake Hartwell. Learn more about this family farm at http://carolinagrassfedbeef.com.

High Meadows – 1,018 acres – Abbeville County
This immense, scenic property was the first to be protected by Upstate Forever in Abbeville County. High Meadows, over a thousand acres, is in rolling pasture for cattle and crossed by a number of creeks. The property, which is located near the town of Abbeville, is also used for outdoor recreation by its owner.

Cotton Patch – 403 acres – Polk County, NC
Cotton Patch has almost three miles of frontage along both sides of the North Pacolet River, one of the region’s most important freshwater resources and the most significant tributary to Lake Blalock, a principal source of drinking water for Spartanburg County. Cotton Patch is also located in close proximity to other significant conservation lands. The property contains eight rare species of plants, including the rare white walnut tree and the very rare bristly sarsaparilla.