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Forested recreation in the heart of the Triangle 

Stop RDU Quarry

Help us stop the first private rock quarry on public land in North Carolina

December 3, 2025 - Court Rules in Umstead Coalition’s Favor to Restore the 50-year Sunset Clause and Protective Stream and Park Buffers Enshrined in the Original 1981 Quarry Permit. Read the press release>>

The Odd Fellows Tract is 105 acres of forested land adjacent to Umstead State Park and the East Coast Greenway. RDU acquired the land in 1976 by a forced sale for a runway that was never built. 

In July 2017 the national nonprofit, The Conservation Fund, offered to buy the Odd Fellows Tract from RDU to expand Umstead State Park and build single-track bicycle/pedestrian trails.

The RDU Airport Authority (RDUAA) did not accept the offer from the Conservation Fund. It also rejected the quarry proposal in October 2017.

But with only two days notice to the public, and no public discussion, on March 1, 2019, RDU executed an Option and Lease Agreement with Wake Stone for a proposed quarry. The  RDUAA Board meeting lasted 4 minutes and 17 seconds.

Charlie Morris  produced a short Explainer video (click on the graphic at right)  and a 1 hour documentary "400 Feet Down"


the Facts

The Land Is not owned by rdu

RDU doesn't own the land, they manage it for the Cities of Raleigh & Durham and Wake & Durham Counties.

Rdu can sell the land to the park

RDUAA can sell the land to Umstead State Park. The FAA allows the sale of land for non-aeronautical purposes.

It's a new mine, not an expansion

Wake Stone proposes a separate, approximately 400 foot deep pit on the other side of Crabtree Creek. Only 25feet set-back from Umstead State Park and the East Coast Greenway

private quarry on public land

This will set a new precedent for NC and be the first private rock quarry on public land in the state. 

QUICK overview

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) signed a “mineral lease” to Wake Stone Corporation, a private rock quarry company, on March 1, 2019 with 48 hour public notice. 

The contract to sell mineral property would allow Wake Stone to create a new rock quarry pit within a 105 acre tract adjacent to William B. Umstead State Park and Old Reedy Creek Road. The tract is referred to as the “Odd Fellows Tract.” 

Four local governments own the Odd Fellows Tract

The Odd Fellows Tract is publicly-owned and deeded to the Cities of Raleigh and Durham and the Counties of Wake and Durham. The NC legislation that establishes the RDUAA identifies the “owning municipalities” of the RDU Airport to be the Cities of Raleigh and Durham and the Counties of Wake and Durham. This would create a new 400 plus foot deep quarry pit on the west side of Crabtree Creek.

It's a sale, not a lease

The RDU “mineral lease” is a lease in name only. It is a contract with the sole purpose of allowing Wake Stone Corporation, a private business, to remove and sell public property (soil, rock) on the open market. The mineral rights would be conveyed from the public owners of the land to a private rock quarry company to sell.  Permanent removal of the forest, top soil, and rock would occur — truck load by truck load. It is estimated the quarry operations would generate 500 truckloads a day! 

It is not comparable to a land lease for a hotel or gas station as neither sell government property as a business model. In a normal land lease, the property is returned to the Landlord at the end of the term and can be used for another purpose. In this case, the only thing which will be returned is a liability, a large pit with net negative value. It will not be able to be reused. This pit will be very dangerous with steep slopes, and will require a fence to keep everyone out.  


the Odd Fellows Tract

"What has been missing from the debate, as far as I can tell, is any real appreciation by the media, elected officials, or the general public for just how beautiful and special the Oddfellows tract of woods really is. Few people besides Boy Scouts and mountain bikers have ever been out there, which works to RDUAA and Wake Stone's unfair advantage. 

So as a citizen of Durham or Wake Counties, and thus as a co-owner of this public forest, I decided to share my best photos of Oddfellows with you so you can judge for yourself whether this land deserves to be turned into a pit in the ground."
-The Ghost of Oddfellows


We will need your continued support as we fight the quarry, and now, the RDU Fence. We remain steadfastly committed to our goals: 

Protect Umstead State Park

Save our public lands and prevent the first private quarry on public lands in NC

Stop exploitation of our public lands

Protect the trails at Lake Crabtree County Park (yes, the airport proposes to turn them into an office park)

Expand legal biking and pedestrian trails in the Old Reedy Creek Corridor, including on airport property and Umstead State Park


WHO WE ARE

We are a coalition of residents, organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs working towards preserving Lake Crabtree County Park, protecting Umstead State Park, and preserving the forested corridor that connects them.