After nearly four years of negotiations and planning, a major acquisition of land in Hillsborough officially added more than 200 acres and a popular historical attraction to the Eno River State Park.
The North Carolina State Parks system announced Tuesday that property, including the Historic Occoneechee Speedway and the James M. Johnston Nature Preserve, formally transferred to its ownership and joined the 4,500 acres of protected land just east of the town.
The land was previously owned by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, which was approached by the Eno River Association in 2021 as it began a reorganization with new leadership after being known as the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. The trust donated a portion of the land’s value and the Eno River Association – which works to preserve land within the Eno River basin in northern Orange and Durham counties – successfully fundraised the rest to complete the sale. The nonprofit earned commitments by the North Carolina Land & Water Fund ($973,000), the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund ($500,000), and the Harkrader Family ($100,000) – who issued their own challenge to donors to help get the deal finalized.
Tuesday’s announcement said the complexity of the transaction, which includes multiple parcels, easement holders, and new owners, was delayed by roughly a year. But now, the “ink is dry,” the Eno River Association says, and an official ribbon cutting celebration is planned for the spring by the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
An aerial map of the land being acquired from the Jenrette Foundation, as shared by the Eno River Association in 2022. The red outline areas represent the land being added to Eno River State Park, while the orange outline is going to The Archaeological Foundation. Hillsborough’s Riverwalk and the Mountains-to-Sea trail are represented by the dotted yellow line. (Photo via Eno River Association.)
“We are excited about this expansion, made possible through a unique partnership between the Division of Parks and Recreation and two dedicated conservation groups, the Eno River Association and the Jenrette Foundation,” said DNCR Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “This land has a rich history, from its original stewards, including the ancestors of the present-day Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, to its role in shaping North Carolina’s thriving racing industry, and now as part of a beautiful state park. We are thrilled that it is now protected forever and will remain accessible for the public to enjoy.”
“We are thrilled to have led the successful closing of the Hillsborough project, marking another critical step forward in our mission to protect the ecological health, cultural heritage, and historical significance of the Eno River basin,” added Kim Livingston, the interim executive director of the Eno River Association. “This achievement was made possible through the dedicated efforts of our partners, supporters, and the community, who share our commitment to safeguarding this vital resource for generations to come. Projects like this not only preserve land but also reinforce the importance of collaboration in achieving meaningful conservation outcomes.”
Ultimately, the Eno River State Park adds 205 acres including the historic speedway, parts of the Mountains-to-Sea trail and Hillsborough’s Riverwalk greenway on the land. An additional 24-acre parcel along the river near town, which has the remains of four Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation settlements, is now owned by The Archaeological Conservancy – which specializes in cultural history sites.
Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell said he’s excited about what the acquisition means for both of those parcels close to his town, and both accessible by the Riverwalk. He added that for the Occaneechi Speedway, the backing of the state could help make it even more of a destination for both visitors and community members who walk the dirt track.
“Not only will this land continue to be conserved and preserved, but hopefully we’ll get some additional facilities,” Bell told 97.9 The Hill following the announcement. “I bet a lot of people would like to see some bathrooms on that site, and maybe some dog-waste cans – those of you who walk that site frequently [know], those two amenities would be welcome.
“So, I’m looking forward to the resources they might bring to that, and what that means for people in Hillsborough – who can literally walk from downtown to that state park, which is pretty cool.”
The Classical American Homes Preservation Trust took over the land to preserve the historic race track in 1997 before formally opening its walking trails in 2003. The Occaneechee Speedway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was one of the state’s first designated locations on the new Moonshine and Motorsports Trail, which celebrates North Carolina’s history of auto racing connected with distilling alcohol. The one-mile dirt track hosted early NASCAR and auto races for nearly 20 years until 1968 on land where the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation once lived, and features speedway artifacts like old race cars and spectator stands around its loop.
The Jenrette Foundation will continue to own and operate the property around Ayr Mount, a restored 19th-century home that is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Featured photo via Carolina Gilmore/Eno River Association.
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