Cherry Run

The Cherry Run Project in Centre and Clinton Counties represents the largest number of acres protected in the Conservancy’s 75-year history.  This 12,670-acre tract of mountain wilderness has five clear-running streams.  One of them – Cherry Run – is so pure and remote that the Pennsylvania Fish Commission has designated it a “Wilderness Trout Stream.”

The Conservancy first became interested in the Cherry Run Property in 1971 and negotiated for eight years with the B&R Lumber Company of Johnstown.  During negotiations, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER) expressed interest in the land because it lies adjacent to Bald Eagle State Forest.

However, DER was unable to commit funds to the project and encouraged the Conservancy to pursue the acquisition with other land conservation agencies.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission made a firm commitment and agreed to reimburse the Conservancy for the land over a period of years.

To finance the project, the Conservancy negotiated a long-term loan with Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh.  This marked the first time that the Conservancy had to borrow funds for a land project.  With the loan for Cherry Run, the Conservancy was able to keep its revolving land acquisition fund intact and available for other projects already under negotiation.

To acquire the Cherry Run property, the Conservancy purchased the stock of B&R Lumber Company, then liquidated the company and sold the real estate, at cost, to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The Game Commission designated the area as State Game Land 295.  The land offers excellent habitat for black bear, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and other forest wildlife.  Game Lands designation provided permanent protection in its natural state for such activities as hunting, fishing, and hiking.

Commenting on the Cherry Run project, Glenn L. Bowers, Executive Director of the Game Commission said:

“The sportsmen of the state and our agency are deeply appreciative of the cooperation of the Conservancy.  Many times there are insurmountable obstacles which prevent the Game Commission from acquiring desirable tracts of land.  Often, the Conservancy has stepped in to acquire property, and in turn has made the land available to the Game Commission.  As a result, thousands of acres of valuable tracts which might have been tied up forever in private ownership and closed to the public are now owned by the sportsmen of the state and can be enjoyed in perpetuity by all.  For this, all citizens of the Commonwealth are grateful.”