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North Carolina acquired more than 342 acres without using local purchase money; the mountain property is now moving toward becoming Buncombe County's largest public park (Image Credit: Buncombe County, North Carolina)
A 342-acre mountain property west of Asheville has moved another step closer to becoming a public park, with Buncombe County now developing the master plan for what it says will be the largest park in its portfolio.
The county completed the acquisition of Deaverview Mountain in March 2026 using 100% grant funding, and on September 15 approved a $1.39 million contract to begin planning the future park. According to Buncombe County, the property includes a 3,118-foot peak, 180-degree views of the French Broad River Valley, 16 headwater streams and extensive forest habitat.
342 acres acquired without local purchase money
The Deaverview Mountain acquisition represents a major conservation project for Buncombe County, but the county did not use local purchase money to acquire the land.
According to its latest update, the 342-plus-acre property was acquired using 100% grant funding, through the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and grants from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund and the federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) programme.
The county's project page lists an ORLP acquisition grant of $4,009,648 and a $4,162,000 North Carolina Land and Water Fund grant for acquisition and transaction costs.
The county has separately set aside $7.7 million from its Open Space Bond for costs associated with the broader Deaverview project, while it plans to pursue additional grants for future development and operations.The distinction is important because acquiring the property and developing it into a functioning public park are separate stages. The land has been secured, but trails, access facilities and other visitor infrastructure still need to be planned and built.
Mountain landscape with views and waterways
Deaverview Mountain sits west of Asheville and contains a 3,118-foot summit overlooking the French Broad River Valley. The property has open areas with 180-degree views, expansive forested habitat and 16 headwater streams, including one identified as a priority for state protection. A conservation easement covers 315 acres of the property, according to the county. The county envisions the site primarily for passive recreation and nature-based activities.
Potential uses include hiking, nature viewing and outdoor education, while the planning process will also consider how to protect biodiversity, water quality and the mountain's natural landscape.The location gives the project an additional conservation dimension. Deaverview Mountain is a prominent landscape around Asheville, and Buncombe County has described the acquisition as an opportunity to protect a significant natural asset from future development while creating new public access to trails and scenic overlooks.
From private property to future public park
The path to public ownership began before the county completed its purchase. In 2023, a conservation-minded buyer acquired the Deaverview Mountain property and entered into a three-year option agreement with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. That arrangement provided time to identify a permanent conservation solution. SAHC and Buncombe County subsequently worked together to secure the funding needed to protect the property and eventually transfer it into county ownership.The county closed on the property on March 19, 2026. At that point, however, Deaverview Mountain did not immediately become a public recreation area. The county states that the property remains closed to the public and will not open until the necessary park infrastructure has been completed. That means the current phase is focused on turning the newly acquired landscape into a carefully planned park rather than opening the mountain immediately to visitors.
$1.39 million master-plan contract approved
The next major step came at the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners' September 15 meeting. Commissioners approved a $1.39 million contract with Equinox Environmental to develop the Deaverview Mountain Master Plan and engineering designs. The two-phase planning contract will cover community outreach, environmental and trail assessments, recommendations for future funding, and plans for access, parking, trails, restrooms and viewsheds.
A future third phase is anticipated to focus on actually constructing trails, access improvements and viewshed amenities.The county had already issued a request for qualifications for design services in March, shortly after acquiring the property. Its project documents describe the future Deaverview Mountain Park as a way to expand the county's park system while preserving an important natural landscape.
What the future park could offer
Although the exact layout of the park has not yet been determined, the planning documents provide an indication of what visitors could eventually experience.
The county has identified hiking, nature viewing, outdoor education and other passive recreation as potential uses. The mountain's summit and open areas could provide scenic viewpoints, while its forests and waterways offer opportunities for environmental education and habitat conservation.The project also has a conservation component that will shape future development. The county says its goals include protecting water quality, preserving biodiversity and safeguarding natural habitats.
The conservation easement covering much of the property adds another layer of protection as the park is planned.
Toward Buncombe County's largest park
Once completed, Deaverview Mountain is expected to become the largest park in Buncombe County's current portfolio. County officials described the acquisition as a major step toward creating the largest park in the county's portfolio, although the proposed 1,600-acre Pisgah View State Park would be larger if it proceeds as planned.For now, Deaverview Mountain remains a protected property in transition. The land has been acquired, the conservation framework is in place and the master-planning process is underway. What remains is to determine exactly how trails, access points, parking, restrooms and scenic areas can be introduced without undermining the mountain landscape that the acquisition was intended to protect. The result will be a public park built around a landscape that, until recently, was not publicly accessible.
With the acquisition funded entirely through grants and the planning phase now moving forward, the 342-acre mountain is gradually shifting from protected private land into a future destination for hiking, conservation and outdoor education.
