Last Updated on June 20, 2026 6:00 pm
ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. — Roan Mountain State Park is slated to grow, thanks to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s purchase of a 103-acre property on Smith Branch in Carter County, Tennessee, adjoining the park’s northern boundary.
SAHC intends to own the tract for the short term, until it can be transferred to Tennessee State Parks and added to Roan Mountain State Park, the nonprofit announced. The Smith Branch property includes a log cabin and two sheds, and had been listed for sale on the open real estate market before park staff reached out to SAHC for help to protect it.
The tract sits roughly 2,000 feet from the park’s Visitor Center, is highly visible from the top of Roan Mountain and from the Appalachian Trail as it crosses through the Highlands of Roan. The Chestnut Ridge Trail runs along the boundary of the State Park and the conserved tract.
“One of the most rewarding ways SAHC conserves land is when we acquire it for future transfer to a public agency, making that land available to the public for hiking and camping,” said Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “The Smith Branch property is the second tract that SAHC has purchased to expand Roan Mountain State Park in the past five years. I am grateful for the partnership of TN State Parks and Green South Foundation on this project, and for the former property owner’s commitment to seeing their beloved land protected forever.”
Why protect this tract?
“The strategy for future acquisitions for Roan Mountain State Park is to acquire inholdings and properties surrounding the park for watershed protection, and properties that contain representative forest cover that further the wildlife, aesthetics, interpretive, and recreation missions of Roan Mountain State Park,” said Monica Johnson, park manager of Roan Mountain State Park. “A huge impact and threat would be created by a housing development on the ridges. Development would greatly impact the viewshed when looking down the valley from the top of Roan Mountain. Conserving this land helps protect the integrity of the park boundary.”
Ecological importance
The tract is shaped like a bowl encompassing the headwaters of Smith Branch, a tributary of the Doe River. The river has been classified as a Tennessee Exceptional Water and has recorded occurrences of the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), which has been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
The tract is located within the Audubon Society’s Southern Blue Ridge Important Bird Area. There are also records of rare species on the property, including the state special concern Roan Mountain Sedge (Carex roanensis), the state special concern American Bittercress (Cardamine rotundifolia), and the state-threatened Blue Ridge Brome-like sedge (Carex bromoides spp montanium).
Future use
In the long term, after SAHC transfers the property, the existing cabin on the tract could serve for ranger or park employee housing. The land will be permanently protected as a boundary buffer for the park, managed in its natural state with minimal recreational development — the park may improve hiking trails, backcountry campsites and overlook observation points.
SAHC purchased the property with donations from members and a significant bridge loan, which will be repaid when the property is transferred to TN State Parks.
A continuing partnership
The expansion continues SAHC’s longstanding partnership with Roan Mountain State Park. In 2021, SAHC purchased 150 acres adjoining the park at Sugar Hollow, protecting habitat resources and streams in the Doe River watershed. That tract was transferred to the State of Tennessee in 2022 and now provides space for a new trail expansion and backcountry camping sites.
About Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Mountain State Park encompasses more than 2,156 acres of rich hardwood forest, with elevations that vary widely along its rugged landscape and ridges. The park is known for its abundance of rhododendron that bloom in summer. The cool, clear Doe River winds through the center of the park and supports a healthy population of trout. Black bears occasionally make appearances.
The Roan Highlands — which straddle the North Carolina/Tennessee state line along the Avery County border — are a frequent destination for High Country residents and visitors.
Local celebration
In celebration of the closing, SAHC held its 2026 June Jamboree post-hike social at the Smith Branch property on Saturday, June 13. Attendees included hikers, former and current Trustees, volunteers, partners, staff and members. The group enjoyed music, camaraderie and long-range views of the Roan Highlands from the area around the Smith Branch cabin.
More information about the Smith Branch acquisition is available at appalachian.org/smith-branch.
