Background Information

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1990, Camp Allegheny Battlefield's remote location has helped preserve it for nearly 150 years. Now this rare treasure on our national landscape is in immediate danger.

The site is owned in part by the US Forest Service and lies just a couple miles down the Camp Allegheny Backway from the Brightside Acres gate. The Camp Allegheny Backway is a 12-mile portion of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike, one of just 126 roads in the country designated a National Scenic Byway.

Because Highland New Wind is located in Virginia and Camp Allegheny is in West Virginia, the developer has been able to exploit loopholes in the law in order to proceed with construction without any formal review of the historic, archaeological, cultural or scenic impact of the development. Highland New Wind broke ground on August 15.

Vocal opposition by the Pocahontas County Commission, belated media coverage, and a dedicated letter writing campaign by Brightside Acres and Laskas Grove have contributed to the creation of what we hope will be a decisive speed bump in the process.

August 19, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) sent a letter to the VA SCC expressing deep concern about Highland New Wind's failure to follow regulatory requirements regarding the evaluation of historic resources.

August 26, the Virginia SCC issued an order requiring Highland New Wind to respond to DHR's concerns and calling a public hearing for September 23 in Richmond. SCC "Staff" are charged with insuring that "pertinent issues on behalf of the general public interest are clearly presented" at the hearing.

Do you agree that a national historic site should be protected from unregulated industrial development?

Click on What YOU Can Do! Write or call the Virginia SCC and remind them of their obligation to defend the people's treasure.