Need more help planning your next eco-adventure to Tyrrell County? Be sure to visit the Tyrrell County Ecotourism Committee's new website, www.ecotourismnc.org . There you'll find photos, information on local ecology, an interactive activity planner, and much more. The website is constantly evolving, so be sure to check back frequently.
Lands of the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve are leased to local clubs for hunting of deer, waterfowl and other small game. Hunting is not permitted by the public and lands leased for hunting are closed to public recreation. Leased lands are marked with signs and indicated on the property map. For safety reasons it is imperative that recreationists not enter into leased areas.
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve has a wealth of water resources, including the Albemarle Sound, Alligator River, and Little Alligator Creek. Fish common to these waters include striped bass, shad, herring, Atlantic croaker, spot, and catfish. Recreational fishing is permitted at the preserve, however you must have a state fishing license issued by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and follow the state rules and regulations. Fishing is not permitted on the camping platform or canoe pier. Fishermen are required to dispose of all trash, including fishing line, in the provided trash cans.
Smoky skies and high gas prices were not enough to keep anglers away from the 2nd Annual Alligator White Perch Tournament. Driven from a successful tournament last year, there were 33 adults and 3 children that battled for the largest combined weight of 12 fish. Lines could be in the water at 5:30AM and every angler had to be at the weigh station no later than 4PM to be eligible to win.
The weigh-in took place at Bailey’s store in Alligator, NC. While anglers waited nervously to see if their 12 fish were going to hold up, they enjoyed some delicious pork, sea trout, and many other tasty sides that Colon Bailey and Patsy Swain prepared.
The Conservation Fund sponsored the tournament with a huge amount of help from local businesses and volunteers to spotlight Tyrrell County, the community of Alligator, and the outdoor recreational opportunities available to visitors in the area. We would like to thank Comstock Farms, Full Circle Crab Company, Colon Bailey, and Patsy Swain for their contributions.
ALLIGATOR WHITE PERCH TOURNAMENT RESULTS
36 anglers | June 14, 2008 | Alligator, NC
TOP FINISHERS (Junior Division): 1, Ben Decker, Belmont, 12 fish, 4 pounds, 3 ounces, $50; 2(tie), Garrett Creef, Greenville, and Jackson Vaughan, Woodland, 12 fish each, 3 pounds, 12 ounces, fishing pole and lures.
TOP FINISHERS (Master Division): 1, Cory Arnold, Columbia, 12 fish, 5 pounds, 13 ounces, $200; 2, Savannah Westover, Columbia, 12 fish, 5 pounds, 10 ounces, $100; 3, Joey Phelps, Creswell, 12 fish, 5 pounds, 5 ounces, $50.
Top finishers in the tournament were: front row (left to right): Savannah Westover, Jackson Vaughan, Garrett Creef; and back row: Joey Phelps, Ben Decker, Cory Arnold.
If a day on the water is what you’re looking for we can accommodate that as well. A canoe/kayak trail is accessible from the boardwalk trail and presents you with 14 miles of shoreline to explore along the Albemarle Sound and Alligator Creek. Travel one mile west of the boardwalk and you’ll find Hidden Lake, surrounded by cypress trees and Spanish moss. This lake is only accessible by canoe or kayak and offers a quiet serenity for those looking to get away from it all. Signs and a map at the boat launch provide visitors with information about the paddle trail.
With so much to do and see at the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve, you may not want to leave at the end of the day. Now you won't have to! Thanks to a generous grant from the Anheuser Busch Foundation and the NC Adopt-A-Trail Program we have built a camping platform on Hidden Lake. After an invigorating paddle along the Albemarle Sound enter the pristine, tranquil waters of Hidden Lake and relax for the night under the stars. Reservations are required for overnight use of the platform and can be made through Roanoke River Partners. For more information on the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve paddle trail and Hidden Lake camping platform, check out our Paddle Trail Brochure. Then, pack your bags and plan to spend a night at the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve.
Enjoy nature at a leisurely pace along our 1/4 mile Shoreline Boardwalk Trail or our new 3/4 mile Woodland Boardwalk Trail. The Shoreline Trail takes you through a wetland forest before ultimately reaching the Albemarle Sound. Interpretive signage along the way provides information on the property's history, native plant and animal species, and the preserve's forest. Our new Woodland Boardwalk Trail winds through the pine forest and features two wildlife viewing stations.
In addition to our boardwalk trails, there is an extensive network of dirt logging roads that are perfect for exploring the rest of the preserve. With 10,000 acres waiting to be explored, perhaps the best way to see the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve is by bike or horse. Our extensive network of dirt logging roads offers a flat, compact surface suitable for mountain bikes and horses.
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve is probably best known for its birding opportunities and has been designated as a state-significant Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. Come take a rare glimpse at the 28 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers located at the preserve. Numerous other bird species are found here as well, including loons, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons, bitterns, ibis, geese, ducks, vultures, hawks, eagles, gallinaceous birds, and plovers. And don’t forget about the more than 100 species of migratory birds and waterfowl that pass through the preserve each year.
Birds are not the only creatures you will see at the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve. American alligators, red wolves, bobcats, black bears, and white-tailed deer also make their home here. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as you tour the property. Our new Woodland Boardwalk Trail is complete with two observation stations, offering you a quiet location to view the preserve's abundant wildlife.
What is Ecotourism?
While many people have a sense of what constitutes ecotourism, it is hard to arrive at a single definition. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people." Many emphasize the role that ecotourism plays in educating visitors and instilling an environmental ethic that they will carry with them beyond their vacation. Ecotourism is distinct from nature tourism, which is travel to unspoiled places to experience and enjoy nature; wildlife tourism, travel to observe animals in their native habitat; or adventure tourism, nature tourism that involves a degree of risk taking in poorly charted terrain. In short, you can think of ecotourism as travel that is Environmentally, Socially, and Economically responsible.
How is the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve an example of ecotourism?
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve seeks to be a model of true ecotourism by adhering to ecotourism’s three guiding principles.
Environmental Responsibility
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve is 10,000 acres of wetland forest in Tyrrell County, NC. The preserve was established to protect and provide habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW). Once prevalent throughout the southeast, the number of RCWs has declined by 99% since European settlement due to habitat loss and degradation. The preserve is also home to other protected species including the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, American alligator, and red wolf. In addition, the preserve hosts more than 100 species of migratory birds and waterfowl. Bobcats, black bears, white tail deer, and a wide variety of plant species also thrive at the preserve. As ecotourism begins to flourish at the preserve we will continue monitoring these valuable natural resouces to ensure that recreational activities are in harmony with our environmental goals.
Carbon Zero is another way in which we offer environmentally sensitive travel at the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve. Climate change is a pressing issue facing our planet. Visitors to the preserve can do their part by offsetting their yearly carbon dioxide emissions. It's easy! Simply click on the link below and you will be directed to a calculator that will ask you to input your home energy consumption and travel habits. The Carbon Zero Calculator estimates your yearly carbon dioxide footprint and the number of trees it takes to offset it. You will then be invited to make a donation to The Conservation Fund to plant and monitor the trees. You can start by simply calculating your energy use for a year’s worth of travel to the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve, or make an even bigger impact by offsetting your entire lifestyle for a year. Go Zero!
Social Responsibility
Ecotourism seeks to preserve traditional ways and values for community members, while educating visitors on local customs and practices. The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve is committed to working with the local community to implement programs that embody this ethic. The Conservation Fund is partnering with local organizations and community members to showcase the County’s cultural and heritage assets and to educate visitors on historic traditions.
Economic Responsibility
When it comes to responsible tourism, local is best. When tourism related businesses are not locally owned, the profits that they generate typically "leak" out of the local economy. It’s estimated that for every $100 spent in a nationally owned business, the economic impact on the community is only $13. Yet that same $100 spent in a locally owned business provides a $45 impact on the local economy. The Conservation Fund is dedicated to balancing environmental principles with economic goals, a commitment that will be exemplified at the Palmetto-Peartree Preserve. As the project progresses we hope to offer small business development training opportunities, recreation concessions for locally owned businesses, and partnerships with local accommodations.
Ecotourism can be an excellent economic driver for communities, proving that environmental goals can be met simultaneously with economic goals. Tyrrell County’s leaders are acting as responsible environmental stewards by focusing on ecotourism rather than other more polluting forms of economic development. By capitalizing on natural and historic assets through ecotourism, Tyrrell County is well on its way to building a vibrant economy without jeopardizing the future of its natural resources.
Want to Learn More?
Use the following links to learn more about ecotourism.
Escape the crowds and heat of summer, and spend a night on our camping platform at Hidden Lake. Make a reservation now.
Powered by: Phase2 TechnologyPalmetto-Peartree Preserve
212 Main Street
Columbia, NC 27925
Phone: 919-967-2223
Fax: 919-967-9702
Email: palmettop3@earthlink.net
