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SCCi
Purchases
Purchase is our 22nd Acquisition
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has
completed the purchase of South Pittsburg Pit, located in the city of
In 1997, the Conservancy leased the rights to the cave and one acre of surrounding land. For seven years, the SCCi managed access and kept the cave open for visitation. In 2004, the lease expired, and the owner chose not to renew it. Instead, the 1,900-acre property containing the cave was listed for sale. Since that time, the SCCi has been working to purchase the cave and a reasonable buffer of land around it.
Early in 2005, the property containing the cave was sold to a developer.
SCCi representatives contacted the new owner and made a proposal to purchase
the cave and some of the land around it. Many months of negotiation
followed. On
The South Pittsburg Pit Preserve includes the pit entrance and ten acres
overlying the cave passages, as well as easements for access to and from the
preserve. The seller has also donated an additional ten acres to serve as a
buffer against future development in the area. Access to the twenty-acre
preserve is available via the established trail which begins behind the water
tank above Lloyd Park in
The purchase is being financed by a 10-year, $40,000 mortgage. Donations to support the purchase
and help pay off the mortgage are welcome. Contributions may be made by check
or credit card, and may be mailed to SCCi, PO Box
The South Pittsburg Pit Preserve is the SCCi's 22nd cave preserve. The SCCi owns or leases 51 other caves, and this purchase increases its holdings to 1,169 acres of cave and karst lands in six states.
Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to SCCi Acquisitions
Chairman