The 3,971 foot high Mountain is now preserved as the Buffalo Mountain Natural
Preserve Area and is administered by New River State Park. The land
was originally given to General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee as a reward
for his military service in the Revolutionary War. The land was then passed
to Henry's sons and heirs, Charles Curtis Lee, and Confederate Civil War
hero, Robert E. Lee. At the base of the mountain, Charles Lee built a log
cabin and law office which is still standing.
Buffalo Mountain has the distinction of being the only habitat in the WORLD, for a mealybug called Puto kosztarabi. I have never seen it or tasted it, but I will be looking out for it.
Not many years ago, the Nature Conservancy bought the land from private individuals and then passed it to the Commonwealth of Virginia to be preserved forever.
I climb the moutain several times a year, and recently, I've seen disturbing developements around the mountain. For example, trees have been clear-cut on private lands immediately adjacent to the park. On the approach road, a new road has been bull-dozed toward the east at the saddle.
For more information on Buffalo Mountain Natural Preserve in Floyd Co,
VA, visit: http://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/buffalo.htm