Pisgah National Forest
Much of the region’s land is part of the Pisgah National Forest, the oldest national forest in the United States. Spanning almost 500,000 acres, the Pisgah National Forest was created through a purchase of nearly 80,000 acres from George Washington Vanderbilt’s estate in the early 1900s. An outdoor enthusiast, Vanderbilt’s legacy continues not only in Asheville's famous Biltmore Estate, but also in the multiple conservation efforts around the region. Vanderbilt was responsible for the nation’s first school of forestry, which has been used as a model for many of the programs in national forestry today.
Lake James State Park
The North Carolina General Assembly established Lake James State Park in 1987 with the purchase of 605 acres of land. In 2004, our parent company, Crescent Resources, LLC, worked with the state to expand Lake James State Park by almost 3,000 acres. The groundbreaking for the new portion of the park will take place in 2008, next to our community, 1780.
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
In an effort to pay tribute to the patriot “Overmountain Men” militia of the Revolutionary War, Crescent is working with the National Park Service to create 3.5 miles of new trails on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail through our 1780 community. The first mile was certified as a “linear national park” in fall 2006. Eventually, this trail will connect 1780 to Camp Lake James, the Pisgah National Forest and the Mountains to the Sea Trail.
Click here to download an audio file about the history of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Click play below to listen to information on the region’s history.
