Historic Black Mountain camp designates 336 acres for conservation
Camp Rockmont partners with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to permanently protect ridgeline and cove in Craggy Mountains
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 25, 2026
Lake Eden Preserve, which owns the historic Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain has partnered with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to protect 336 acres of land overlooking Lake Eden. Courtesy of Michelle Pugliese
A 336-acre tract of land overlooking a historical property in Black Mountain will be permanently protected from development, following the Sept. 24 announcement of a partnership between Camp Rockmont and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
The property, owned by Lake Eden Preserve, which operates the camp established in 1956, encompasses a ridgeline and steep southeast facing cove in the Craggy Mountains, draining into Lake Eden.
The easement is situated within a large network of protected land that includes parts of Pisgah National Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Asheville Watershed and other protected lands, representing one of 19 new land protection projects the SAHC has completed in 2026. The nonprofit land trust’s total protected acreage past the 100,000-acre milestone.
“This land inspires greatness,” SAHC Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese said in a press release the conservation partnership. “The forested ridges and natural beauty surrounding Lake Eden created an inspiring setting for the experimental Black Mountain College. The land continues to foster a connection between nature and people, invigorating generations of young leaders through Camp Rockmont’s programs. Beautiful water cascades create quiet locations to contemplate life and soak in the environment. The upper elevations of the property contain rare and important habitat types.”
Constructed by E.W. Grove in the 1920s, Lake Eden and the lodges on the property functioned as a private retreat. The quiet cove became the campus of Black Mountain College in 1941, when influential artists from around the world participated in an experimental education model that prioritized an approach centered around art.
Camp Rockmont, initially founded as a Christian summer camp for boys, was founded in 1956. Currently, more than 1,400 campers, annually, participate in programs that use the mountains, forests and waters of the property as an integral part of an experience centered on adventure, community, personal growth and faith. The property has been owned by Lake Eden Preserve since 2021.
A small waterfall is among the many natural features on the 336 acres of land that will be preserved through a partnership between Camp Rockmont and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Courtesy of Rachel B. Pressley
“As stewards of this beautiful mountain landscape, we believe it is our responsibility to protect and preserve this extraordinary property for generations to come,” said Matt Crawford, on behalf of the Lake Eden Preserve Board of Managers. “From the beginning, the Lake Eden Preserve ownership group has been deeply committed to preservation. We are grateful for the opportunity to help safeguard a place that means so much to Camp Rockmont, the Black Mountain community and the natural heritage of Western N.C.”
Low Elevation Basic Glade habitat on the property contains several rare plant species. Four special status species found within the newly designated Camp Rockmont/Lake Eden Preserve Natural Area include: Stone Mountainmint (Pycnanthemum curvipes), Browneyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba var. beadlei), Allegheny Onion (Allium allegheniense) and Blue Ridge Catchfly (Silene ovata). Audubon Society’s Black & Craggy Mountain Important Bird Area overlays the property, while the historic Black Mountain College campus is located on the portion of the tract excluded from the conservation easement.
The conservation easement was made possible with grant funding from the N.C. Land and Water Fund, the 2022 Buncombe County Open Space Conservation Bond, generous donations from SAHC supporters and a donation of the conservation easement by the landowners.
“Our community prioritizes conservation of our natural resources and thanks to the voters of Buncombe County, who strongly supported the 2022 $30M Open Space Conservation Bond, our county was able to invest $250,000 in this important conservation project and help leverage thousands of additional investments from partners,” said Buncombe County Commissioner Terri Wells. “Working in partnership with SAHC, we are conserving priority scenic and biodiverse mountain lands that help protect our water quality.”
The property will continue to be owned and managed by Lake Eden Preserve, with passive recreation enjoyed by participants in the Camp Rockmont programs. The N.C. Land and Water Fund will hold the conservation easement on the property, and SAHC will be involved in long-term monitoring of the conservation easement to ensure permanent protection of the conservation values of the land.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will celebrate its 100,000-acres-protected milestone from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, with a special event at Highland Brewing Co. More information and registration for the event at Appalachian.org.