Climbing Land Conservation Deals
Red River Gorge Has Completed the US's Largest Climbing Land Deal
Adam Harrie — May 14, 2026
The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition completed the largest climbing land acquisition in U.S. history, purchasing 718 acres of cliff faces and bottomlands along more than 14 miles of cliff line in Eastern Kentucky for $1.7 million. The climbing land conservation transaction in Kentucky was part of a three-way deal in which developer Ian Teal acquired the full 2,506-acre Ashland Inc. property.
The climbing community had pursued the Ashland property since 2002 and was only able to complete the acquisition by partnering with a private developer willing to prioritize conservation.
As outdoor recreation increasingly supports economic recovery across Appalachian communities where traditional industries have declined, Red River Gorge shows how combining private development, nonprofit acquisition and state agency ownership in a single transaction can create stronger conservation outcomes than more conventional approaches.
