The Carolina Climbers Coalition recently announced some big news. The nonprofit has entered a contract to purchase the 55-acre Buckeye Knob property and obtained a permanent easement for accessing the lower Barn Boulders in Western Watauga.
The area is one of the local, secret climbing holes in the High Country, which has seen many great climbing spots Mildred’s Boulders, Hound Ears and Howard’s Knob close because of development over the past few decades.
Since March, the Carolina Climbers Coalition has been working on securing this property, according to CCC President Brian Payst. When the property recently sold to Highland Forest and Timber, local climbing legend Joey Henson, who lives next to the Barn Boulders, talked to Highland Forest and Timber and then reached out to the Carolina Climbers Coalition.