Along the shoreline of the Tuckertown Reservoir, the water gently laps the banks of a secluded cove in Davidson County. A mature oak forest meets the water of the reservoir, providing shade for the fish and animals that call this place home. Thanks to Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT) and its supporters, these 200 acres in Davidson County will remain undeveloped and publicly accessible.
“This is the first acquisition of our Save Tuckertown campaign. We are working to purchase additional lands from Alcoa as funds are available. The overall goal is to transfer the ownership of these lands to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,” states Travis Morehead, Executive Director of Three Rivers Land Trust.
These lands have been enrolled in the North Carolina Gamelands Program for decades. The Gamelands Program, administered by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, provides recreational access to private lands. Countless public land users have traversed these slopes and shorelines since being enrolled. Memories of cold mornings, brilliant sunrises, and sunsets are deeply imprinted on the consciousness of the men and women who have enjoyedaccess to these lands. “Public land is so important, and it has become very important to me in the past ten years. I have loved being able to come down and access this place as a public land hunter,” states Kristin Bundy, Agriculture Teacher.
Nearly 80% of North Carolina’s population lives within 100 miles of these lands, making them within easy driving distance of North Carolina’s growing urban centers. North Carolina’s population continues to grow and is projected to be the 7th most populous state by 2030. This growth places additional development pressure on waterfront rural properties like this one. Keeping these lands undeveloped helps to balance the scales of growth and protect the natural resources and rural character that North Carolina is known for. “I often ask our elected officials, ‘Does North Carolina want to be known for what we build or what we protect?’ The choice is really that simple. Do we want to be an urban state with concrete from edge to edge, or do we want to retain the undeveloped rural character North Carolina is known for?” Morehead says.
The ability to purchase this first tract stems largely from an anonymous donor and a matching campaign led by two prominent national outdoor companies; onX and MeatEater. In coordination with TRLT, these two well-known outdoor companies put their money and influence to work by providing an international spotlight, to showcase the importance of these lands. Contributions were received from all 50 states, Guam, Canada, and Europe. “We were astonished at the number of donations we received from people across the world, the vast majority of which will likely never step foot on these lands, yet they generously supported the Save Tuckertown effort. This demonstrates how important publicly accessible lands are to the people of this nation,” Morehead states.
While this first acquisition is a reason to celebrate, the effort to purchase the remaining 3,800 acres is just getting started. If you would like to join the effort to “Save Tuckertown,” please visit the website www.savetuckertown.org to learn more and to donate. Everyone is invited to celebrate this milestone at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM at 1347 Newsom Rd., Denton, NC. For more information about the ribbon cutting, please visit our website www.trlt.org or www.savetuckertown.org.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the first phase of the Save Tuckertown project. A special thank you to the following for their incredible support of the Tuckertown efforts: Rednecheck Securities Fund, Fred and Alice Stanback, onX Maps, MeatEater, Coca–Cola Consolidated, Amy Grissom, Anonymous, Kimberly Hamilton-Carr and Dick Carr, North Carolina Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, The North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, The Hunting Public, Duke Energy Foundation, Richard and Kay Cosgrove, Daniel Monroe, Glen & Diane Williams Family Foundation, Jeff Moose, Alexander Jones, Adele Kirk, Virginia Russell, and Steve Smith.
