Panther Branch Natural Area Opens As Newest Addition To The Eno River Parks Network

EFLAND, NC – A collective vision to transform 56 acres of family-owned forest into a publicly accessible riverfront hiking area has become a reality.

Panther Branch Natural Area in unincorporated Efland will celebrate its opening on Earth Day, April 22 – the culmination of six years of work by the Eno River Association, generous donors, and scores of trailblazing volunteers who all committed to preserving this pristine parcel of Eno watershed as natural parkland in a fast-growing area of Orange County.

“We are thrilled to add the Panther Branch Natural Area to our Eno River network, the seventh public park we helped create and the second one we will independently own and manage,” said Jessica Sheffield, executive director of the Eno River Association. “This project fits squarely into our strategic commitment to proactively expand our conservation footprint and foster connections to the Eno basin. And we could not have done this without the tireless efforts of our volunteers and the collective commitment of donors to protect this forest for generations to come.” 

The Panther Branch project first started to take shape in 2017, when a member of the Iski family–who owned two adjacent parcels of land at 2437 Lebanon Road–contacted a real estate agent about selling the property but preserving its natural beauty for public access. The agent knew about the Association’s work from many years volunteering at Festival for the Eno and connected the land trust with the Iski family, who ultimately agreed to sell the land for about $6,000 an acre.  

“You cannot own land like this. It must be shared,” Robin Iski said of the family’s decision to sell the final section of a larger parcel once owned by their maternal grandmother. Iski has a deep connection to these woods, having lived on the land in a rustic cabin from 2010 until its sale in 2017. 

“Even when I lived there, I invited people to enjoy the trails,” Iski said. “The idea of selling the land to a developer and dividing it up and making it into all these individual lots … that just seemed wrong to me.”

Just three miles off I-40 and I-85, Panther Branch features creek and river frontage, intact hardwood forests, carpets of native wildflowers, distinct trails providing more than two miles of walking paths, and a small parking lot. Visitors can hike, fish, or picnic at the site, which is named after the creek that crosses the land and feeds into the Eno.

The site will be open every day from dawn to dusk, access that would not be possible without the commitment of volunteers loyal to the Eno River Association’s mission to protect and share valuable rivershed land. Teams of volunteers spent about 600 hours clearing brush, building trails, and getting the site ready for visitors.  

As a resident who lives nearby in unincorporated Efland, Mikki Fleming said she was committed to doing whatever she could to ensure that this beautiful spot of riverfront forest remains both undeveloped and publicly accessible. For the past year, she joined crews of volunteers who worked to clear invasive plants and create more than two miles of trails winding through groves of pines, oaks, and countless wildflowers. 

After the grand opening, Fleming will serve as one of three volunteer site stewards, visiting every other week and after big storms to ensure the trails are clear of debris and trash and the space remains accessible.

“My first reaction on visiting the site was how peaceful and serene it is,” she said. “This area is growing so fast, so I’m a huge proponent of doing everything we can to preserve the trees, the river, the homes for all the animals…I would love to see more people work to preserve the natural beauty of their land so future generations still have a place to visit.”

Ed Sredzienski, another longtime Eno volunteer who worked many hours to ready the site for visitors, said he expects Panther Branch will become a neighborhood treasure and a popular draw for nature enthusiasts.

“No matter what happens with development in the future, this will always be a refuge for people to go,” he said. “It was really fun to play a part in making this happen for people in this part of the Triangle.” 

The Eno River Association secured grants from the North Carolina Land & Water Fund, Orange County, and the City of Raleigh Watershed Protection Program to help cover acquisition costs and other fees.

North Carolina Rep. Renee Price, who represents parts of Orange and Caswell counties and lives on the banks of the Eno in neighboring Hillsborough, said she’s deeply grateful to all those involved in the conservation of Panther Branch and eager to join the visitors enjoying the flora and fauna after this public space officially opens in her district. She added that this project dovetails with her goal to promote and advance the sustainability of the region’s natural resources, particularly in the midst of development pressures.

“Winding its way through the rural and urban parts of Orange County, the Eno River is both a natural resource and a cultural amenity, worthy to be protected and cherished,” Rep. Price said. “The Eno River has played an essential role in the lives of the broad spectrum of people who have dwelt along its banks and relied on the ecosystem it supports, used its flowing water for commerce, harnessed its might for energy in industry, and stood in its gentle waters for baptisms.”

The estimated $60,000 cost of developing the site for the public opening was supported by Dominion Energy, Mountain Dew, the Duke Doing Good Community Fund, and general operating support from member donors.

“Protecting the planet and instilling a passion for the environment for future generations takes a village,” said Julia Wright, Dominion Energy’s Economic Development and Local Affairs Manager. “Our support for the Eno River Association is part of our shared responsibility to ensure we can enjoy our natural resources in the region today and tomorrow.” 

During two days of festivities on April 20 and 22, the Association will celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting, guided hikes, an introduction to our “BioBlitz” and iNaturalist training, and a scavenger hunt. Organizers will also offer sales of Eno merchandise – including a new Panther Branch t-shirt– and reveal the winners of the trail naming contest. Members and other visitors were able to vote on their favorites for the two new trails and even offer some interesting write-in suggestions. (The Earth Day event is open to the public and visitors can register to attend at the Eno website enoriver.org).

Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver said she’s excited about the opening of a new natural area for Orange County residents to visit and enjoy. 

“Local governments in Orange County are striving to encourage development closer to urban centers rather than encouraging sprawl in order to make our communities more environmentally friendly and climate resilient,” Mayor Weaver said. “As we do this, having accessible areas where people can easily experience all the mental and physical benefits of the outdoors is crucial to making our communities terrific places to live.” 

About this land

This is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Eno, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Occaneechi, other people of Siouan descent, and their descendants, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. The Eno River Valley was their home for thousands of years before the arrival of people from other continents. Indigenous people are the original stewards of this land.

Not much is known about the early Colonial history of this property, although it was presumed to be farmland. The only known historical feature for this property is Lebanon Road, which was the colonial road known as the “Great Road” that led from Hillsborough to Faucett Mill, a former grist mill that was built before 1792, and then continued west to Guilford County. Community members with information about the history of the property or neighboring resources should contact the Association as it works to catalog these stories.

About the Eno River Association

The Eno River Association is an accredited land trust and watershed nonprofit founded in 1966 with a mission to protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River basin in northern Durham and Orange counties. One of the early projects the Association championed was the creation of Eno River State Park, and since then, the Association has supported the Park through land acquisitions, education program delivery, advocacy, and awareness. The Association is the Park’s official “Friends” group, and the Association’s board of directors also serves as the Park’s advisory committee. 

In addition to Eno River State Park, the Association helped create other local, state, and regional nature parks along the Eno and its tributaries, including Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, West Point on the Eno City Park, Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, Little River Regional Park, and the Confluence Natural Area. The Association continues to acquire land and secure easements, as well as provide stewardship, education programs, and events like the annual Festival for the Eno to inspire others to prioritize our local, natural resources.

To support this conservation work, please consider becoming a member of the Eno River Association by donating here.