You’ve seen the headlines. Some billionaire is building a "doomsday bunker" or buying up thousands of acres for a private hunting retreat. It’s the usual script. But when you look at Tim Sweeney, the guy behind Fortnite and Epic Games, the story is weirdly different.
Honestly, it’s not what you’d expect from a tech mogul.
Since 2008, Sweeney has been on a massive buying spree across North Carolina. He isn't building mansions. He isn’t developing high-end resorts. Instead, he’s basically acting as a one-man land trust, scooping up tens of thousands of acres to make sure they stay exactly as they are: wild.
The Numbers Are Kind Of Staggering
As of 2026, Sweeney’s footprint in the Tar Heel state is massive. We are talking about over 54,000 acres spread across 15 different counties. To put that in perspective, that is roughly the size of two and a half Manhattans.
Most of this land is held under an LLC called 130 of Chatham. If you dig through property records in places like McDowell, Rutherford, or Chatham counties, that name pops up everywhere.
He didn't just start yesterday.
Sweeney began this project during the 2008 financial crisis. While the rest of the real estate world was imploding, he saw an opportunity. He realized that developers who had planned massive golf courses and luxury subdivisions were suddenly desperate to sell.
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One of his first major wins was the Box Creek Wilderness.
It’s a 7,000-acre tract in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A developer originally wanted to turn it into a massive resort complex. Instead, Sweeney bought it and eventually placed a permanent conservation easement on it. That means it can never be developed, period. Not even if he sells it.
It Isn't Just About Owning Land
There is a common misconception that he’s just hoarding dirt. But if you listen to him talk about "biological corridors," you realize he’s playing a much more complex game.
Basically, he wants to connect existing state parks and national forests.
Plants and animals need to move. If you have a state park surrounded by strip malls and subdivisions, the ecosystem eventually chokes. Sweeney is buying the "in-between" spaces. His goal is to create a continuous corridor of protected land from the South Mountains State Park all the way to the Pisgah National Forest.
Major Donations and Transfers
- The Roan Highlands: In 2021, Sweeney pulled off what was arguably the largest private land donation in North Carolina history. He handed over 7,500 acres to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. This land is home to rare plants, six waterfalls, and the country’s largest American Chestnut restoration project.
- Mount Mitchell State Park: More recently, he worked with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation to expand the state's highest peak. He sold 238 acres of high-elevation spruce-fir forest at a discount so the park could grow.
- The Virginia Connection: He even reached across the border, donating 7,300 acres known as Falkland Farms to the state of Virginia.
Sweeney has admitted that since 2021, the market has changed. Land is more expensive now. Because of that, his strategy has shifted from "buying everything available" to "securing what I already have." He’s spending more time working with the state to move these private holdings into permanent, public conservation.
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It’s a fair question. You’d think he’d be more interested in the metaverse than a muddy creek in McDowell County.
He’s mentioned in various interviews that land conservation is just a "practical and cost-effective" way to protect the planet. He likes the efficiency of it. If you spend money on a non-profit, some of it goes to overhead. If you buy a mountain, you own the mountain.
He also has a personal connection to the land.
Growing up in Southwest Virginia, his grandmother had a farm. When her health failed, the family had to sell the timber rights—and eventually the farm itself—to pay the bills. Watching that land get stripped of its trees stayed with him.
Now, he’s got the "Fortnite money" to make sure that doesn't happen to the places he loves in North Carolina.
What This Means for You
If you live in North Carolina, Sweeney’s land deals are likely affecting your backyard in ways you don't see.
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For one, he’s a huge reason why certain areas aren't covered in sprawl. He’s also been known to work with local families. If a family has lived next to one of his tracts for generations and they need a small piece of land to expand their own farm, he’s occasionally sold it to them—as long as they promise to keep the habitat intact.
But don't expect most of this land to become a public park tomorrow.
A lot of it is still private. He allows people to visit certain areas like Box Creek, but you usually have to email for a "permission card" first. It’s a bit of a "look but don't touch" situation for now, though the ultimate goal is to hand it over to the state.
Actionable Insights for Landowners and Enthusiasts
If you’re interested in how this conservation model works or if you live near these areas, here is the reality of the situation:
- Conservation Easements are Powerful: You don't have to be a billionaire to protect land. Placing an easement on your property can reduce your tax burden while ensuring the land stays wild forever.
- Monitor Local Planning: Sweeney often steps in when developers fail. Keeping an eye on local zoning and "failed" development projects in your county can give you a heads-up on where the next big conservation deal might happen.
- Support Land Trusts: Groups like the Foothills Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy are the ones doing the heavy lifting to manage the land Sweeney gives them. They are always looking for volunteers and local advocates.
- Check Accessibility: If you want to hike these areas, always check the current ownership. Much of Sweeney’s land is still transitioning to the state. Use apps like onX Hunt or Gaia GPS to see property boundaries and ownership names (look for "130 of Chatham").
The "Sweeney Method" is essentially a race against time. He is betting that if he can hold the land long enough, the state will eventually have the funds and the will to take it over. In the meantime, he’s just a guy with a lot of trees and a very long-term plan.
It’s a strange legacy for a man who made his fortune in a digital world, but for the salamanders and black bears of the Blue Ridge, it’s a winning strategy.
Next Steps for Research
To see exactly where these tracts are located, you can search the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) website for recent land acquisitions involving the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. This is the primary vehicle the state uses to help purchase land from private owners like Sweeney for public use.