The Thompson Tract
48 Acres for Birds, Prairies, and Mountain Views
September 2025
Down a long gravel drive, not far from Belews Lake and just one property removed from PLC’s Knight Brown Nature Preserve in Rockingham County, 48 more acres of prime wildlife habitat have been permanently protected from development thanks to the generosity of landowners Sam and Lea Thompson.
For decades, a neighboring farmer grew crops and pasture grass on this land. When the chance came to purchase it, the Thompsons stepped in, partly to preserve their own back-porch view of the Sauratown Mountains, but also to shape the land’s future. Now that their llama-farming days are behind them, they’ve turned their focus toward making the property a haven for wildlife.
When asked why they decided to protect the land with Piedmont Land Conservancy, Sam’s answer was both practical and heartfelt:
With help from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Sam and Lea developed a wildlife management plan that guides their stewardship.
They regularly see turkey, deer, rabbits, opossums, coyotes, and more, but it’s the birds that capture their hearts. “We have over 50 species of birds,” Sam shares, noting Scarlet Tanagers, Towhees, and even the occasional Oriole among their visitors.
Much of the property is open prairie, large fields of native grasses and wildflowers that are increasingly rare in North Carolina. To keep these habitats thriving, the Thompsons have worked with the N.C. Forest Service to conduct prescribed burns, an effective and time-tested way to maintain prairie ecosystems.
Thanks to the Thompsons’ vision, this land will remain a sanctuary for birds, wildlife, and people who value the beauty of North Carolina’s piedmont landscapes. Every time a property like this is conserved, the future of our prairies, forests, and watersheds looks brighter.