At Foothills Land Conservancy, we believe every acre of land contains stories about the wonders of nature, and that the landscapes of the American South are precious assets that will be lost without a committed effort to protect them. We’re honored to take on this responsibility – one property at a time.

Dan and Judy Batson have what some would consider to be a smaller piece of lakeside property in Knox County. It was once part of farm owned by James Early but was subdivided along the shoreline for houses in the 1960s. Dan’s parents bought one tract and ultimately deeded it with its small house to their children.  In 1972, Dan and his wife Judy became the sole owners.

It’s a simple story on its own; a transfer of property among family members. What makes the property special is what the Batsons didn’t do next. They didn’t develop it, sell it to someone else who would, or build more houses on it themselves. What was a lakeside pasture tract 65 years ago is now a wooded lot full of trees and native plants. It’s a reminder that land can (and does) recover. Today, it’s an oasis in the middle of lakeside development with deer, chipmunks, a chubby groundhog, herons, osprey, and even the occasional eagle sighting. Touring the property, Dan will point out the meadowscape that includes goldenrod, milkweed, bottlebrush buckeye, and dogwood.

Dan and Judy were engaged on the property one New Year’s Eve and spent their first night as a married couple in the house. While their conservation easement states that the house can be remodeled with a very small expansion of square footage, no other home can ever be built here. The land provides and protects wildlife habitat and is a corridor to other forested tracts and the open waters of Fort Loudon Lake.

Judy and Dan had heard about FLC but didn’t think the organization would take on a smaller property, particularly considering that half of the acreage is under Fort Loudon Lake. The encroaching marina and residential development pushed them to make the call and at least ask. Judy liked the relationship FLC created with them from the beginning, and it hasn’t changed in over 15 years.  It’s a relationship founded on shared values, a deep commitment to land stewardship, and an appreciation of the natural resources that make East Tennessee so special.