News & Media

The first phase of mountain bike trails on Stumphouse Mountain in Oconee County is officially open! Six miles of trails are already accessible and ten total should be completed by the end of the year, linking the town of Walhalla to the Palmetto Trail. The Trail is built and managed by Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Upstate Forever holds the park land under a conservation easement, which permanently protects the property from development. We are honored to have worked with many sponsors and partners to complete this exciting project to improve access to nature in the Upstate. read more

Upstate Forever and Heart of Boiling Springs will host a series of public workshops in partnership with Toole Design Group on Thursday March 22, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Boiling Springs First Baptist Church, 3600 Boiling Springs Rd. and Thursday April 26, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 210 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs. The workshops are part of a process to develop a shared, community-driven vision for Boiling Springs, a rapidly developing uninco­rporated community along the I-85 corridor in central Spartanburg County. read more

Upstate Forever is pleased to announce three new additions to its Board of Directors: Hank McCullough, Ken Deon, and Charles Dalton. We look forward to their participation and insight as Upstate Forever works to protect the critical lands, waters, and unique character of Upstate South Carolina. read more

PICKENS, SC — A tract of land near Glassy Mountain Heritage Trust Preserve in Pickens County that was once slated for a controversial real estate development has been permanently protected by a conservation easement. Upstate Forever was instrumental in working with the community and the owners of the proposed development site to realize a conservation outcome for this important tract of land at the base of Glassy Mountain, a Pickens County icon. The tract in question is critical to preserving the natural heritage of the area. read more

During the summer months of 2017, Furman University biology professor John Quinn and Emma Cook, a biology and sustainability science major, conducted research on selected Upstate Forever conservation lands to understand how bird species are responding to land use change across the Upstate region. read more

Greenville, SC – The Jolley Foundation awarded Upstate Forever a grant for $90,000 over two years to engage Greenville County community members and quality-of-life stakeholders in critical land use discussions and to help build local capacity for addressing community challenges through land use solutions. With the generous support of the Jolley Foundation, we plan to engage many more citizens and non-traditional stakeholders in discussions about land use and its impacts. read more

Upstate Forever is hosting their annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon on February 27th, 2018 at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Boulevard. The luncheon celebrates individuals and organizations for significant contributions in fields related to conservation and sustainable growth. This year’s keynote speaker will be Cheri Chastain, Sustainability Manager for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. read more

Boasting a new venue and its first-ever mountain bike ride, the 6th annual Preservation Ride on September 23 was a great event. All in all, we had 165 total road cyclists, mountain bikers, and hikers show up to enjoy a beautiful day at Pleasant Ridge State Park in Greenville County. We're so grateful to our generous sponsors — we couldn't do this without you! read more