Gibson Bottoms was fated to be an RV park before hundreds of Macon County citizens asked the state to halt the first permit for point source pollution on the river downstream of Franklin.

Subsequently, LTLT negotiated a contract to purchase the 36-acre, over half-mile river frontage tract from the developer. The financial support for this purchase came from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, a grant from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, made via the Conservation Fund and private gifts from 85 friends of LTLT who responded to an appeal letter in 2002.

LTLT named the tract "Gibson Bottoms" for the generations of this Macon County family who grew corn, hay and other crops on this land.

Gibson Bottoms is home to Fraser's Loosestrife (Lysimachia fraseri) - a state listed rare plant that had never before been documented in the Little Tennessee basin.

Adjacent 28.5 acres was conserved in 2005 which includes another 1,000 feet of river frontage.