Cliff Face at Joy Valley A cliff face at the Joy Valley Nature Preserve, which Athens Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy will protect together. © Terry Seidel
For generations, the Crane family has found peace, inspiration, and connection in the forests, cliffs and waterways of Ohio’s Hocking Hills and the greater Appalachian foothills. From childhood adventures and family gatherings to quiet moments of reflection in protected landscapes, these places have shaped their deep commitment to conservation.
In their own words, members of the Crane family share why preserving land matters—now more than ever—and how The Nature Conservancy’s work ensures these wild places remain accessible, resilient and protected for future generations.
REMARKS FROM THE CRANE FAMILY
Mike and I first started going the Hocking Hills area in the late ‘70s. We were very fortunate to be able to stay at Bob and Loann Crane’s beautiful house off of Snortin’ Ridge Road. After we were married, we took our sons and other family and friends there because it is such a special place. There is a lake and miles of trails that we took advantage of in every season. We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend that time in the hills away from the city and immersed in nature.
We also visited the state parks like Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. We loved it, especially in the winter and spring when there would be ice formations at Ash Cave and roaring waterfalls at Cedar Falls and very few people.
In 2008 we purchased our own piece of heaven with Mike’s siblings. A former horse farm, our property has big meadows surrounded by forest. It is so peaceful and beautiful, and again we love going there in every season. It’s a real getaway from the pressures of everyday life. Friends ask us what we do when we are there, and the answer is we hike, read, cook, explore, stargaze outside by the firepit, and sit by the pond listening to the frogs and the birds and just be. It’s wonderful. Our property is very near Clear Creek, Cantwell Cliffs and Honeycomb Rocks.
We are so thankful and appreciative that others have worked hard to preserve this land so the rest of us can enjoy it it in its natural state. There is a lot of pressure on this area as more and more people have discovered its beauty. Land is becoming fragmented and developed and not always in a way that is good for the landscape or the flora and fauna. To have state parks and preserves and conservation easements is so essential to saving this land from more degradation.
The most important aspect for me is land preservation and conservation because once it’s developed it will rarely if ever be back to the way it was.
And as the city of Columbus becomes surrounded by data centers and warehouses, it is even more important to protect land that offers the beauty and serenity that Hocking Hills does. And I fear it’s not happening quickly enough!
I would say to anyone considering a contribution to The Nature Conservancy that your donation will be put to the best possible use to ensure that our wild landscapes stay wild. And that future generations depend on our generosity as we have depended on the forward thinkers who saved thousands and thousands of acres for our enjoyment and ability to experience beautiful landscapes in a pristine state.
-Paige Crane
Future generations depend on our generosity as we have depended on the forward thinkers who saved thousands and thousands of acres for our enjoyment and ability to experience beautiful landscapes in a pristine state.
Having spent the summers of my childhood outdoors, either in my neighborhood or at summer camp enjoying camping out, canoeing or just hiking, I have always appreciated the natural world. Like Paige and Mike, my husband Richard and I love going to the Hocking Hills to get away from busy urban life and experience refreshing “forest bathing.” Whether it’s at a park, in a field or meadow, or in a forest, it is wonderful to be able to experience the calm of these natural areas, which are presently available to all, but which need to be protected for the future.
The Nature Conservancy is working to conserve and protect areas of the Appalachians for all of us to enjoy, for now as well as for the future. It is crucial that they have the support needed to do this, and we, as a family, have felt the need to do our part. Every gift to TNC is important and contributes to the well-being of the area and to our environment in general, as it is all connected. And as Paige says, “future generations depend on our generosity” as we have benefited from those before us.
-Beth Crane
I first learned about the important work being done by The Nature Conservancy in the 1980s when I lived on Shelter Island, New York. Fully one-third of this island at the east end of Long Island is a TNC preserve. Not only does this sanctuary provide a haven for the flora and fauna and a chance for the public to hike through the forest and along the beaches, it creates a natural barrier to the overwhelming development consuming the rest of Long Island and enhances the property values in the area.
Today we live next to 100 acres of forest and creek that were donated to TNC in the late 1990s and are protected by our local Jefferson Township Land Conservation Association. Here we can ride our horses on the trails or explore on foot for morels and arrowheads with our grandchildren.
Last year I helped support the Joy Valley Nature Preserve, 3,000 acres of forested land in the southern Ohio foothills that are part of the vital Appalachian wildlife corridor. The Preserve was made possible by a partnership between Athens Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy and marks one of the largest private land-protection initiatives by nonprofit organizations in the state’s history. Betty Lowe, the private landowner who contributed this vast tract of land in 2025, did so to conserve the property from future development, prevent mining and major disturbance of the land, preserve native biodiversity, allow the public to walk and enjoy nature, and encourage appreciation and protection of the natural world. “May this be an inspiration for other landowners to protect their properties,” she said.
How fortunate are we to be the beneficiaries of the generosity of these landowners? But we can all play a part: whether through financial contributions to TNC, or the donation of conservation easements or gifts of land, we can be assured that all of us have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from Ohio’s natural beauty
-Sally Crane Cox
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