In 1964, a couple bought 535 acres in North Carolina and built a summer home there; decades later, they donated the entire property to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its largest land gift since the park was created

A high-altitude property first bought as a private family retreat in the mid-1960s now serves as an important centre for environmental research in North America. The 535-acre property in Haywood County, North Carolina, historically known as "The Purchase", was officially transferred to the National Park Service around the turn of the millennium. Former owners Kathryn McNeil and Voit Gilmore donated the land, which became part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was the largest single private land gift to the park since its establishment in 1934. Located along the Cataloochee Divide, the property sits on a high ridge next to the existing national park boundary. Its main landmark is Purchase Knob, a 5,086-foot peak offering wide views of the surrounding mountains.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!