Each summer in Montreat, Montreat Cottagers, Inc. holds its annual meeting – an opportunity for homeowners to gather, exchange information, discuss shared interests, and vote on matters affecting property and community life in the valley.
At this year’s meeting, which will be held tomorrow morning in Anderson Auditorium, one item on the agenda is a proposal to transfer ownership of a 200-acre tract of wilderness land from the Cottagers to the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center). This undeveloped property, located between Greybeard Mountain and Pinnacle, was purchased by the Cottagers more than 30 years ago to ensure its permanent preservation. It was subsequently placed under a conservation easement held by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). Montreat Cottagers retains ownership.
Known locally as “Rocky Knob” for the peak nestled between Greybeard and Pinnacle, the property was renamed the “Jane Holt Wilderness” last summer in recognition of a particular cottager and her tireless advocacy for the conservation of Montreat’s surrounding lands.
Over the past two years, the Cottagers’ Board and its Wilderness and Open Space Committee have undertaken an extensive review of the property’s future, which resulted in a recommendation that the Cottagers transfer ownership to the MRA. That question now comes to the agenda of the Cottagers meeting tomorrow. Given the number of recent inquiries, I want to clarify the MRA’s position and offer a couple of observations.
First, the MRA is not pursuing acquisition of the property. While we fully share the Cottagers’ commitment to ensuring that the land remains protected under its current conservation easement stewarded by the SAHC, whether Montreat Cottagers is the best long-term owner of the property is a question for the Cottagers to answer.
If the membership decides to offer the property to the MRA, the proposal will then go to our governing board. At its spring 2024 meeting, the board discussed the possibility of such a transfer and authorized continued communication with the Cottagers. It also asked me to “report back on any formal action taken by the Cottagers regarding Rocky Knob, in order that the Board may consider and act on any proposal extended by the Cottagers.” In short, if the property is offered, the board will give it due consideration. That is where things stand from the MRA’s perspective.
For what it’s worth, I don’t believe the future conservation of the property is in doubt. Every cottager with whom I speak supports the permanent protection of the land. Likewise, across all platforms of leadership at the MRA, we understand that our mission is strengthened by access to surrounding wilderness, which enriches our outdoor programming, supports our retreats and conferences, and draws generation after generation to this sacred place. Thanks in large part to Jane Holt (and, Jane would hasten to add, many others!), environmental stewardship has become a vital expression of the MRA’s identity and calling.
Finally, for those seeking practical assurance: Some two decades ago, the MRA board’s membership shifted from a model based on presbytery and synodical appointments to one that prioritizes more direct engagement in Montreat’s ministry. Ever since, Montreat cottagers have been – and remain – strongly represented on our board.
Broadly stated, as long as cottagers remain active and engaged in the MRA’s mission, they will have a strong voice in shaping Montreat’s environmental stewardship and future direction. For a great example of the impact that such engagement can have, you need look no further than Jane Holt.i
With gratitude,
Richard DuBose
President, Montreat Conference Center