Jack's Dream
24 Acres Transferred to Winston-Salem for Future Park
JUNE 2025
In June, Piedmont Land Conservancy transferred 24 acres of historic farmland to the City of Winston-Salem, where it will become a future passive park. The land, once part of the former Evergreen Farm, was gifted to PLC by Jack Hauser, whose lifelong connection to the property and dedication to its legacy made this conservation project possible.
Jack Eugene Hauser (1927–2018) was the last of his family to actively farm the land, raising cattle, boarding horses, and growing hay on the pastures he called “Three Forks Farm.” The property had been in his family since the 1870s and was originally part of Evergreen Farm, a nationally recognized site of agricultural innovation founded by Jack’s grandfather, James Monroe Jarvis, who developed the Jarvis Golden Prolific seed corn, a variety that spread across the Southeast and is still grown today as an heirloom.
In his final years, Jack worked to see the land protected as a passive park. In 2018, shortly after meeting with PLC, Jack passed away. He left the land to PLC in his will, asking us to fulfill his vision. PLC officially acquired the property in August 2023 and has now transferred it to the City of Winston-Salem with a permanent conservation easement that ensures it can only be used as a passive park.
This 24-acre parcel, situated between Clemmons and the commercial corridor of Hanes Mall Boulevard, offers a rare opportunity to preserve green space in a largely developed area. Its open meadows, wooded hills, and flowing creek provide habitat for wildlife and a peaceful setting for future visitors to connect with nature and reflect on the region’s farming past.
Evergreen Farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a rare surviving example of North Carolina’s transition into progressive agriculture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Jack Hauser’s gift ensures that this land, and the legacy of his family, will be preserved for generations to come.
Jack’s dream has finally been realized, and we all stand to benefit from his passionate care. Thank you, Jack!