130-Acre Chesco Property Along French Creek Conserved Forever

EAST VINCENT, PA — A 130 acre campground property in Chester County, including a large swath of land along French Creek, has been preserved forever, a conservation organization told Patch this week.

The Camp Innabah property, located off of Pughtown Road in East Vincent Township, has long served as a community center, outdoor recreation destination, and general camp with programs for people of all ages. The property has been long debated and sought after for years, and the new agreement will keep it safe from the pressures of land development.

The owners, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church, reached the agreement with a local nonprofit, the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust.

“After working with the Camp for several years to develop an agreement which balances long term preservation and recreational access with the safety of the Camp’s guests, French and Pickering is excited to partner with the Camp and the community to permanently protect this natural treasure," Karl Russek, Conservation Director for French and Pickering Conservation Trust, told Patch.

A wide variety of woodlands, wetlands, and some 4,000 feet of French Creek's banks are protected in the plan. The camp also includes a crucial flood plain habitat for birds, amphibians, and various rare native plants.

A series of hiking trails and parking lots are planned so that the larger community can access and utilize the property.

Camp Innabah was originally founded in 1929 as an all-girls overnight camp, but has since grown to serve all ages and genders.

French and Pickering Conservation trust obtained about $861,000 from the Chester County Preservation Partnership Program, $500,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and $252,000 from the East Vincent Township Supervisors for the project.