Whorled rosinweed is among the many types of native grassland plants that emerged from a clearcut. The property in Meigs County near Georgetown is now protected in part by the Foothills Land Conservancy. Shelby Lyn Sanders
FLC biologist makes an unexpected discovery in Georgetown, Tenn.
Shelby Lyn Sanders is director of natural resources for the Blount County-based Foothills Land Conservancy.
GEORGETOWN — What started as a simple search for a peaceful retreat turned into an extraordinary ecological discovery.
When Mr. Owen purchased his land near Georgetown, he was looking for a place to hunt, hike and escape city life. Little did he know he’d become the guardian of one of Tennessee’s rare prairie gems.
The property’s true identity emerged when the Foothills Land Conservancy’s director of natural resources (the author of this piece) spotted something remarkable during her first visit — prairie dock, a telltale sign of native grassland heritage. This wasn’t just any piece of land; it was a lost prairie awakening from decades of forest cover, less than a half mile from the historic Gunstocker Glade along Highway 58.
The timing was perfect. A 2022 clearcut had inadvertently liberated this sleeping prairie, allowing it to breathe and bloom for the first time in generations. By its second year, the land burst into life, revealing an astonishing diversity that had laid dormant for years.
Here’s an aerial view of the Owen property in Meigs County northeast of Chattanooga on the eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpment. Native prairie plants emerged from the site of a clearcut, yielding a surprisingly vital piece of prairie. Shelby Lyn Sanders
What emerged was spectacular: more than 140 native species, including some of Tennessee’s rarest treasures. The vulnerable (G3) Gattinger’s prairie clover made its home here, alongside the declining red-headed woodpecker and the increasingly rare American bumblebee. Each discovery reinforced what conservation experts have long suspected — these remnant prairies are vital sanctuaries for species fighting for survival in our modern landscape.
The prairie’s significance extends beyond its borders. Connected to Gunstocker Creek and within 10 miles of 1,300 acres of other lands protected by FLC, this property serves as a crucial link in a chain of conservation. Through partnership between the landowner and FLC, the land will now receive the careful management it deserves, including specialized mowing schedules that protect grassland species during critical life cycles.
But perhaps the most powerful outcome isn’t just the protection of rare species — it’s the transformation of understanding. Mr. Owen’s journey from landowner to prairie steward demonstrates how connecting people with the hidden wonders of their land can spark a passion for conservation. Looking ahead to 2025, FLC hopes to expand this success by preserving an additional 112 adjacent acres, further securing the future of this rediscovered prairie heritage.
This story reminds us that sometimes our greatest natural treasures aren’t found in distant wilderness — they’re right here in our backyard, waiting to be recognized and protected.