Preserving Chapman Mountain: Land Trust of North Alabama needs your help

Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve, a 472-acre property located just to the east of Huntsville on Highway 72, has been part of the Land Trust of North Alabama’s preservation efforts since 2001, and thousands of visitors and years of effort later, the Land Trust needs the public’s help to keep Chapman Mountain preserved.

The Land Trust of North Alabama is asking the community for their support to fill a final gap in the preserve by contributing funds toward the purchase of 92 acres now available on the western side of the mountain.

What’s at stake

The preserve in its current state was in danger of being purchased and developed but in 2001, as the Land Trust began efforts to preserve the mountain. Through the support of Terry Properties, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Vulcan Materials Company, the Land Trust was able to open Chapman Mountain Nature Preserve in 2018.

Later that year, Alabama A&M University granted the Land Trust a trail license to access 188 acres adjoining the preserve, providing space for an expanded trail system. In 2019, following a successful community campaign for support, the Land Trust purchased an additional 86-acre portion of the mountain.

The preserve now includes an education pavilion, disc golf course and more than three miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

The property currently for sale is surrounded on three sides by the existing Land Trust nature preserve. The area has been recently logged, but if acquired, would be allowed to naturalize over time to provide an uninterrupted wildlife corridor within a highly developed area.

This addition would fill a major hole in the existing preserve, bringing the total preserved acreage on the mountain to 551. The expansion of preserved land in central Huntsville would provide much-needed wildlife habitat and create the opportunity for a significantly larger future trail network.

How you can help

With the real estate market as hot as it is right now, time is of the essence for the Land Trust of North Alabama to make a move on the 92-acres currently for sale.

The Land Trust needs to raise $370,000 by May 15 to purchase the land, and still has not reached its funding goal. This is where you can help.

You can donate here to help the Land Trust meet its goal. Also, there is currently a $25,000 matching donation available so every dollar you donate today will be doubled by a generous donor until the match runs out.

For more information, contact the Land Trust of North Alabama at questions@landtrustnal.org or 256-534-5263.

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