Karen Chávez, Asheville Citizen-Times — CEDAR MOUNTAIN -- Unlike the rest of us, DuPont State Recreational Forest will start off the new year with plans to expand its waist size.

The 11,000-acre state forest that spans Henderson and Transylvania counties is set to receive an additional 753 acres this year.

Known as the "Cascade Lake" property, it was donated in the will of a private landowner through the nonprofit Conservation Fund, which plans to convey the land to the state forest.

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