Fred and Alice Stanback and Bill and Nancy Stanback, all of Salisbury, have helped permanently preserve part of a centuries-old trail that played a role in the creation of the United States, a Conservation Trust for North Carolina press release said.
The Stanbacks “made generous donations” to help protect 1,488 acres owned in McDowell County, the Conservation Trust said in the press release, though it did not specify the amount they gave to help fund the $3.67 million project.
Also involved were the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund, which provided $1.13 million; the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, $868,000; the State Parks Trails Recreation Trails Program, $75,000; and the Conservation Trust, $1.6 million.
The National Park Service, the Altapass Orchard Foundation and Overmountain Victory Trail Association also provided assistance.
Under a deal completed with the state Sept. 4, a permanent conservation easement will protect the property from development and logging, while CSX will continue to own the land, operate the rail line, and pay property taxes, the press release said.
The Conservation Trust will manage the easement and monitor the property annually under an agreement with the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. Eventually, the public will have access to the land.
The property includes about 1.5 miles of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, the route followed by mountain militiamen during the American Revolution on their way to the pivotal Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina, the press release said.