The Land Trust for Tennessee has partnered with Jan and Ed Routon to permanently protect 15 acres of forest and stream along Jumpoff Creek in Marion County. The property sits just southeast of Sewanee, within the South Cumberland Plateau region, and features one of the area’s most striking natural landmarks: Jumpoff Falls.

The Routons’ land includes oak-hickory and pine forest and the meandering Jumpoff Creek, which drops nearly 90 feet in a series of falls before flowing into Jumpoff Cove Branch. The protection of this land helps maintain forest habitat and water quality in a region known for its steep slopes, clean streams, and scenic bluffs.

“We want to ensure that the whole of this unique and unspoiled property remains ‘magical’ and is not destroyed by subdividing, overdevelopment, or forest clearing,” said Jan and Ed Routon in a statement. “We want to pass the property along to future owners who, like us, want to enjoy the special beauty of this natural area.”

The property has long been admired locally for its history and geology. Jumpoff Falls and nearby Jumpoff Rock overlook Jumpoff Cove, a site once referenced by Mark Twain in “Life on the Mississippi” when writing about 19th-century bandit John Murrell. The land also holds traces of early settlements, a Civil War-era homestead, and a small exploratory coal mine believed to date back more than a century.

“The Routons’ decision to protect this remarkable piece of the Cumberland Plateau ensures that its forest, waterfall, and stories will remain part of Tennessee’s landscape forever,” said Emily Parish, Vice President at The Land Trust for Tennessee. “Their commitment helps keep this region’s natural and cultural history intact for future generations.”

The conservation easement allows the Routons to continue using the property for recreation and as a family retreat, while ensuring that its forest and stream remain protected from subdivision or intensive development in perpetuity.

The Land Trust for Tennessee will continue to visit the property annually to ensure its forest and stream remain protected in the years ahead.

The Land Trust for Tennessee is a nonprofit conservation organization working statewide to protect land important to the people of Tennessee. From family farms and historic landscapes to public parks and forests, the work of The Land Trust has a lasting impact on people and places from Memphis to Mountain City. The organization has conserved over 137,000 acres of land since its founding in 1999, and is recognized for meeting the highest standards for excellence and conservation permanence. Learn more at <https://www.landtrusttn.org>;.