Largest Land Acquisition in Climbing History at Red River Gorge

Jereme Ransick, a board member of the Red River Gorge Climbing Coalition, thought about doubling the size of the local climbing area in Red River Gorge, and so he did on behalf of the RRGCC.

Ransick, along with other board members of the RRGCC had their sights on a privately owned, 2,506 acre tract of land managed for hunting by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources set on 718 acres that would significantly expand climbing in the Red River Gorge. This was the Ashland Wildlife Managment Area and the acreage included an expansion of two existing climbing areas within the Red: the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve and the Miller Fork Recreational Preserve. It also spans an entirely new area between Pendergrass-Murray Preserve and the Miller Fork Recreational Preserve with the 582 acre Cave Fork Recreational Preserve. It consisted of over 14 miles of cliff line with ample potential for high-quality route development. It would nearly double the size of the RRGCC property in Red River Gorge.

In  2022, RRGCC had been trying to convince the Ashland Wildlife Managament Area owner of  to donate or sell the property to them. The RRGCC spent six months trying to forge an off-market deal, but these attempts went nowhere. Then, in October 2023, the entire Ashland Wildlife Managment Area appeared on Zillow for sale, and RRGCC went to work at pulling the money together to purchase it. 

Their investors included the Ventura Family (Local business owners including Miquel's Pizza), Ian Teal (Real Estate developer and local business owner), along with other climbers in the Red's climbing community. They were, also, awarded grants from the Community Forest Program Grant, the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund that includes protecting the local bat and Arrow Darter Fish, and a James Graham Brown Foundation Grant.

Along with the grants, RRGCC secured a private loan of $100,000, but also needs to raise another $100,000 to build out infrastructure, totaling $200,000. They are hoping to raise the money through fundraising., making this land purchase the largest land acquisition in the climbing history of the US right in Red River Gorge.

This is not only good for rock climbers, but tourism and local communities, because rock climbers means commerce! So, be sure to support your local RRGCC and give back when you can to the rock climbing community, because it really does take a village for us all to succeed.





Info Via Climbing


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