Bone Camp on Bailey Mountain

Bone Creek Camp’s story is one of conservation, community, and connection to the land that defines Madison County. In partnership with the Trust for Public Land, Madison County Conservancy, Town of Mars Hill, and Friends of Bailey Mountain, efforts are underway to protect 137 acres of ridgeline on Bailey Mountain; land rich in ecological, recreational, and cultural value known as Bone Creek Camp.

This property, once used for private development and mountain biking, already features a network of trails and a gravel road leading to sweeping, nearly 360° views. These existing paths offer a unique opportunity to create accessible outdoor experiences for people of all abilities, while expanding the beloved Bailey Mountain Preserve and unlocking the economic potential of the outdoors.

Through Trust for Public Land’s Appalachian United Outdoors program, we will be able to safeguard the vital watersheds of Ivy Creek and the French Broad River, protect the region’s scenic views and rural way of life, and support Madison County’s vision for sustainable outdoor and agricultural tourism. This protection also ensures the land remains a community resource, rather than being lost to subdivision and private development.

Together, we’re not just preserving land, we’re preserving a way of life. The expansion of Bailey Mountain Preserve promises to enhance outdoor access, celebrate Madison County’s heritage, and strengthen the local economy through eco-tourism. It begins with the land, but its future lies in the hands of the community that cherishes it.