Pip Ridge

A new forest preserve in Hocking County.‍ ‍Dominant tree species include American beech, red maple, yellow poplar, black oak, scarlet oak, northern red oak, chestnut oak, pignut hickory, shagbark hickory, mockernut hickory, and sourwood. The largest trees on the property are American beech and scarlet oak.

Ensuring Hocking Hills’ compelling landscapes are FOREVER!! Pip Ridge is located in a region of Hocking Hills that boasts an unusual density of conservation easement lands and private and public nature preserves. These protected forests provide secure habitat for many deep-woods birds, including hermit thrush, ovenbird, hooded warbler, cerulean warbler, red-eyed vireo, black-and-white warbler, and wood thrush. Transitioning Pip Ridge into a protected nature preserve will add to this existing network of conservation lands in Hocking Hills, benefiting in perpetuity the natural communities that have flourished in the region for millions of years while limiting the unsustainable development that - without some boundaries and regulations - will continue to explode. The goal of the Arc of Appalachia’s Hocking Hills Forever campaign is to sustain the stunning landscapes of Hocking Hills into the far-flung future, ensuring that the region doesn’t lose the stunning beauty that attracts millions of visitors each year.

Clean Ohio Funding & Stewardship Funds. Pip Ridge adds to the Arc’s growing mosaic of preservation lands in Hocking Hills, a region that is facing intense development pressure. This project’s acquisition was largely funded by a Clean Ohio grant, and donor Steven Fought and friends did the rest! We are still raising funds to build reserves in the Arc’s endowment funds that will support the new preserve’s long-term stewardship annually. Income produced annually by the fund will be directed to the Arc’s staffing and equipment center in Hocking Hills that serves Arc preserves in Hocking County and the surrounding counties. See more information: Stewardship Forever Funds.

Steve Fought’s Last, Noble Act of Will

In November, 2025, Steve Fought called the Arc of Appalachia the day before Thanksgiving. He explained that earlier that fall he had been unexpectedly beset with a malady that would bring his one and precious life to a premature end. He was already enrolled in hospice, he said, and he knew his end was near. He also shared with us that he had once owned land in Hocking Hills that he dearly loved. He had been able to successfully preserve that property, and remembering that outcome still gave him considerable joy.

Even as severely weak as he was, Steve wanted us to know that he still had remaining reserves of goodwill. He had a proposal. He had studied the photos and story of Pip Ridge on our website, and he wanted to raise funds for the remaining $25,000 balance from his friends and family, as well as his own cash savings. ‘Could we,” he asked, “quickly put together a dedicated fundraising donation page for his cause - by Giving Tuesday in fact - and share with him the link?” We could indeed, and we did so promptly.

On December 31, 2025, the Arc of Appalachia posted the receipt of Steven’s $8,231 check, which, in addition to the contributions he had raised, brought Pip Ridge officially across the finish line. Never in our three decades of wildlands preservation have we seen a more determined or generous donation. Steve had expressed in action an act of compassion almost too lofty for this world. On January 10, 2026, Steve passed from this earth. It is our humble opinion that he went straight to heaven, a heaven that is every bit as beautiful as Hocking Hills. And that’s saying something.