Tyler Easement

Walter and Jessie Tyler left suburban Philadelphia in the early 1960’s when the much-opposed construction of the “Blue Route” expressway condemned a portion of their property. In search of an untouched, natural area to relocate, they found their slice of paradise along McCabe Run in Perry County. They had found a unique property with a two-acre pond, a coldwater stream, a 1790 log cabin, barn, and sawmill ruins, meadows, wetlands, and a hardwood forest that extends from the wetland to 1850 feet in elevation along the Kittatinny Ridge. It’s the highest point on the ridge, just several hundred feet from McClures Gap and about 2 miles along the Tuscarora Trail to Waggoner’s Gap.

In 1997, after Walter’s death, Jessie developed a conservation easement with the CPC, and included it in her will along with a fund for long-term stewardship to ensure a legacy of conservation that will protect, in perpetuity, the 168 acre property she lovingly referred to as ‘Valley View’. Jessie passed away in 2010, the conservation easement was recorded, and the property (subject to the easement) was sold to her long-time friend who shares Jessie’s values of conservation and stewardship.

According to the easement, hunting and sustainable agriculture are permitted, and in accordance with Jessie’s wishes, the 120 acres of mature oak-hickory forest cannot be commercially timbered and should reach old-growth. No development is permitted outside the building envelope around the existing residence. The property abuts other protected lands, including the Florence J. Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary and is close to Audubon Hawkwatch at Waggoner’s Gap and the Tuscarora State Forest.