Preston Roberts

Preston James Roberts July 17, 1957 - July 24, 2017 was the visionary co-founder of Turtle Island Preserve. He was Eustace Conway's best friend and companion for decades of adventures, as well as co-starring for years on the hit TV show Mountain Men on the History Channel. Over the six seasons of Mountain Men, Preston personally raised thousands of dollars for Turtle Island's Summer Camp Scholarship program by auctioning off the knives he crafted and used on the show. After Preston's untimely and sudden death, friends and fans from around the world started a new scholarship in his honor. This memorial scholarship will carry on Preston's legacy and his deep devotion to camp at Turtle Island Preserve.

We want to thank everyone who has stepped up, reached out, donated anonymously, offered kind messages, and sent warmth our way. It has been a long, slow adjustment to lose such a significant and foundational member of our community and create a new life without him. We hope and pray that the energy, message and spirit of Preston live on in the camps he loved so much when he was here. If you would like to contribute you can click the donate button above or snail mail a check to: Turtle Island Preserve Attn. Preston Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund - 2683 Little Laurel Rd. Boone, NC 28607

For spear-heading this movement, We would like to thank:

Linda Bove

Elizabeth Hamilton

Jeff Schutte

William Ellison

Maureen Deluce

Minzelle & Robert Oliveria

Camp announcement of Preston’s passing:

On July 24th, 2017 at 3:30pm, Preston James Roberts passed peacefully away in the arms of his wife Kathleen, surrounded by family and loved ones. Preston had a large inoperable tumor on his liver that obstructed the flow of blood and oxygen to his organs and body. The change was rapid and outpaced any treatment -- just three weeks prior he was teaching at Boys Camp. While the suddenness of his departure is shocking, we draw some consolation from the fact that his last days were full of family and friends instead of drawn-out suffering.

There is no replacing a human life, and the specialness of Preston as teacher, mentor, builder, friend, artist, elder, inspiration, dancer, leader, and solid rock foundation leaves a chasm in our community. Preston was as practical as he was creative, and over any abyss he would find a way to build a bridge whose quality was matched only by its beauty. He lived for summer camp, and his life and spirit are infused all over Turtle Island, in the buildings, the ceremonies, the land, and the misty mountain air itself. Help us build a bridge and honor his life by ensuring that Turtle Island camps continue far into the future, whether that means lighting a candle on December 24th, sponsoring a camper, or lending a hand in one of the many building projects Preston had planned for the upcoming year.

Preston was laid to rest on the north side of the medicine wheel atop Morning Watch Hill, right in the heart of camp.
We leave you with Preston's words from this past year's holiday message to campers:

"It's cold this morning, the sun is just peeking its head above the mountain. I wonder what it is like at Morning Watch this morning? I wish I was there, this moment, curled in a thick wool blanket, watching the light, birds, and in my minds eye I am there, with you and the others that have carried your stone and placed it in that sacred circle of stones. In my minds eye I can sail through the trees, past the tree-house, classroom, the gazebo and your shoes, over the patch on the barn roof, over the spot we plan to build a traditional carpentry shop, sweeping high into the cold air alongside a raven, looking at the place we love below and wishing for it to continue forever..."

Much love, indescribable gratitude, and, as always, still learning...