320 acres around 200-year-old North Carolina iron mine bought to protect five bat species

A former iron mine in North Carolina, which operated for more than 100 years, has become an important shelter for five species of bats. Its underground tunnels now provide places for bats to hibernate, including species that are rare and endangered. To protect this habitat and the forest surrounding it, a conservation group has purchased 320 acres of land around the historic mine.The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) bought the property in 2026.

It includes the site of the historic Cranberry Iron Mine, located just south of Elk Park in Avery County. The land also contains parts of Cranberry Creek, a wild trout stream, along with smaller water sources. The protected area reaches elevations of around 3,900 feet along its western ridgeline.According to SAHC, the mine was used to extract iron ore from around 1826 until the 1930s.

Initially, most of the mining took place on the surface. However, underground mining began in the 1880s, following the arrival of the Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroad from Johnson City in 1882.