Dr. David LaMond is a physician and medical entrepreneur, but he also wanted to turn his passion for mountain biking into a business. “I have a sickness where I love to start businesses,” he said.

Mountain biking is a bond that LaMond shares with his two sons, ages 17 and 20. And as a doctor, he found himself treating athletes and connecting with mountain bikers. He became friends with Neko Mulally, a world champion downhill biker who lives in Pisgah Forest.

In 2020, LaMond and Mulally launched Ride Kanuga, at Kanuga Conference Center. Then, in 2022, they opened Ride Rock Creek on the edge of DuPont State Recreational Forest.

Both bike parks offer exciting downhill trails for all levels, from beginners to pros, but Ride Rock Creek is particularly special because it’s situated on land owned by Lamond. When he bought the 329-acre property, it came with a conservation easement on 100 acres. This restriction makes many kinds of development off limits, such as a housing subdivision. But it was a perfect fit for LaMond’s business goals. 

Keeping the trees on the mountain slopes was something he already wanted to do. The lush natural environment is what makes Ride Rock Creek so attractive for outdoor recreation. There’s even a 200-foot waterfall. For the last two years, Ride Rock Creek has been home to the USA Cycling National Championships and other major competitions.

LaMond worked with Conserving Carolina, the land trust that holds the conservation easement, to ensure that trail development and other improvements follow the rules set up in the easement. The vast majority of the forest remains intact and natural buffers are maintained around streams and wetlands.

The conservation easement also helps Ride Rock Creek’s bottom line. Because the land has limited development potential, it has lower property value, which means less property taxes. Bike parks run on relatively thin margins, LaMond says, and those tax savings allowed him to invest more money into improving the park and hiring workers.

When the previous owners donated the conservation easement, they may have gotten income tax benefits. LaMond says that, in the future, he would consider protecting more land around Ride Rock Creek for that same reason. If he does donate an easement on additional acreage, he would be eligible for potential income tax savings.

Conservation Easements and the Bottom Line

When most of us think about conservation, it’s public land that comes to mind, like DuPont or Pisgah National Forest. But in WNC, there are also tens of thousands of acres of private conservation land, with permanent conservation easements. These easements are held by nonprofit land trusts or government agencies, which take on the responsibility to ensure that the land remains protected, as promised.

While every situation is unique, businesses that may be compatible with land conservation include farms, working forests, summer camps, retreat centers, wedding venues, bike parks, equestrian facilities, river outfitters, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.

Buying and managing land is a major investment. However, for landowners who want to maintain much of their land in a natural state, conservation can be a good strategy to offset that cost.

Here are some ways that business owners can benefit financially:

• Income Tax Breaks: When landowners donate a conservation easement, the amount of property value they give up is a charitable donation, which may qualify for federal and NC income tax benefits.

• Reduced Cost of Land: If someone buys a property that is already under a conservation easement, the development restrictions are likely to make that property less expensive.

• Lower Property Tax: Development restrictions lower the property value, which lowers the property tax.

• Marketing Value: Customers who are drawn to these beautiful places appreciate that they are protected, so conservation can be a selling point.

A Natural Paradise for Guests

Scott and Dionne Hodgson never saw a future for themselves owning a nature preserve. But when they were looking for investment properties around Brevard, something unexpected caught their eye. It was a 175-acre former summer camp called Deerwoode.

“It had everything anyone could ever desire,” Scott says. The property borders the French Broad River for 1.4 miles. It has a spring-fed swimming hole, ponds, meadows, and wooded mountain slopes, as well as cabins and a large main building.

The property came with a conservation easement held by Conserving Carolina. The Hodgsons had never heard of conservation easements, but as they talked with the land trust, they started exploring an even bigger idea. They could go beyond the easement and restore a natural floodplain—bringing back wild habitat that has been lost along much of the French Broad River.

The Hodgsons bought the land and they’re now working with Conserving Carolina on a restoration project that will span approximately 40 acres. This restoration will include wetlands and a fish habitat slough.

In the meantime, they rehabbed the 11 rental cabins and turned the main building into a venue for large events like weddings and family reunions.

They say they benefitted from the easement because it brought down the price of the land. “I think it was probably a half-price deal because of the heavy restrictions,” says Scott, “but it serves us perfectly.”

They can also proudly tell customers that their land is a nature preserve—protected forever. “It’s only enhanced our business,” says Scott. “We enjoy telling people this property is protected, that we will not overbuild this property, that we love giving back to the environment, that we love the restoration project happening on the river, and that we love keeping it natural for our guests.”

Learn more at ConservingCarolina.org/easements.