1200 Acres to Become Cumberland Wilderness Retreat

FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE

FROM: DANKER & Danker PR/Marketing

Date: January 11, 2013

1200 Acres to Become Cumberland Wilderness Retreat

NASHVILLE “ Ardavan Afrakhteh the president of Land South Tennessee, LLC has announced his partnership with Keith Thompson the founder of Cumberland Wilderness Retreats on 1200 acres in Grundy County. This partnership serves to protect a large portion of the Cumberland Plateau, as most of the land will be a wildlife and nature conservatory.

œWe were thrilled to find that Land South Tennessee was interested in preserving and protecting this land for posterity, said Thompson. œWe knew the 3700 acre area had been divided into three parcels for future development, but never imagined it the possibility of the entire property being protected in perpetuity. The Cumberland Wilderness Retreat will serve as a Christian retreat center, offering worldview training, marriage, and vocational calling retreats. Approximately 120 acres has been set aside for building the center's lodge, cabins, dining facilities, athletic fields and group adventure and rope courses. œWe look forward to sharing the land and retreat with area churches and Christian groups in the years to come, continued Thompson.

œOriginally the plan was to build 600 houses on the property, but fate and stewardship availed to help maintain this land for the community, said Afrakhteh. œThe Foothills Land Conservancy stepped into the picture to educate us on the conservation easement process and manage it from start to finish. At that point I knew it was the right thing to do. Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC www.foothillsland.org) will oversee the majority of the original 3700-acre area off Stephenson Road, with the Cumberland Wilderness Retreat occupying a third. This is the largest private conservation easement donation in recent history for Tennessee.

œThe Cumberland Plateau is breathtakingly beautiful and is best kept untamed for future generations, continued Afrakhteh. Adjacent to the Boy Scouts of America's Skymont Reservation and only miles from The Savage Gulf Natural Area, the land now under the safeguard of the Foothills Land Conservancy will benefit all Tennesseans. The nonprofit Foothills Land Conservancy has been actively stewarding more than 30,000 acres in 18 Tennessee counties over the last 26 years.

Land South Tennessee, LLC. maintains a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and habitat conservation. Each year these industry professionals replant hundreds of acres of forest implementing best practices and proper forestry regulations to protect water quality.