Myrtle Beach Area's Largest Homebuilder Teams Up With U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Protect Forest and Wetlands in Horry County

Myrtle Beach, SC (PRWEB) May 23, 2007 -- Centex Homes, Bass Pro Shops, The City of Conway, Anheuser Busch, The Conservation Fund, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held a press conference and ribbon cutting today to give community leaders a look at the development of the new Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area, just outside Conway.

The Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area is situated along the Waccamaw River on the northernmost end of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. A haven for migratory birds, the 18,251-acre Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge spans portions of the Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers. Its diverse habitats include black water and forested wetlands that host large concentrations of wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and neo-tropical migratory songbirds, and shelter the northernmost nesting grounds for the sallow-tailed kite.

Centex Homes has been a national supporter of the National Wildlife Refuge System for many years. Through donations to land acquisition initiatives, as well as in-kind services, Centex Homes has developed a long-standing partnership with refuges across the country. In 2006, Centex Homes became a supporter of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge through a donation to The Conservation Fund that was earmarked for refuge land acquisition. That donation was used to help the refuge purchase 850 acres of hardwood forest and wetlands. Since that that time, Centex Homes Myrtle Beach Division has "adopted" the refuge, providing volunteers, organizing its trade partners to assist, and overseeing construction of the first two structures in the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area.

Additional corporate and public donations have also contributed to the creation of the recreation area, including gifts from Bass Pro Shops, Anheuser-Busch, the City of Conway and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Helping Centex with plans for

the center were Miller Design, DDC Engineering, The LandArt Co., and Waccamaw Design. Trade partners who provided materials and labor included SUR Concrete, Ajax Construction, Cox Millwork, Builders First Source, and All American Roofing. The SEWEE Association, a non-profit organization, has also been involved in the effort.

"Without the help of partners like Centex Homes, this project would have taken at least 10 years to get off the ground," said Craig Sasser, refuge manager. "We feel very fortunate to have had the contributions of so many local and national partners. We are excited to be able to open this area for public use in the near future."

People visiting the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area will have a variety of recreational activities to enjoy including bird watching, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing along the Waccamaw River. Eventually, a boardwalk will lead guests onto an island within a wetland area, providing a great opportunity to view wildlife and native plants.

"At Centex Homes, supporting the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge is an integral part of our company-wide commitment to balancing conservation with responsible development," said Ken Balogh, Centex Homes Myrtle Beach Division president. "We are pleased to have played a role in the effort to preserve one of the area's most precious resources and provide our fellow citizens an area for education and recreation."

The Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area is scheduled to open to the public later this year.

About Centex Homes
Centex Homes is the largest and most respected homebuilder along the Grand Strand, with 32 neighborhoods from Brunswick County, N.C., to Georgetown County, S.C. The Centex Homes Myrtle Beach Division is a J.D. Power and Associates "Certified New-Home Builder." Centex Homes has also been honored with Habitat for Humanity's coveted "Golden Brick Award" and the Sierra Club's "Friend of the Coast Award."

Dallas-based Centex Corporation (NYSE: CTX), founded in 1950, is one of the nation's leading home building companies. Centex operates in major U.S. markets in 25 states and delivered more than 39,000 homes in the United States in its most recent fiscal year which ended March 31, 2006. Its leading brands include Centex Homes, Fox & Jacobs Homes, CityHomes and Centex Destination Properties.

In addition to its home building operations, Centex's (www.centex.com) related business lines include mortgage and financial services and home services. These businesses provide operational or financial support to home building operations and are leaders in their respective industries. Centex ranks No. 1 in its industry on FORTUNE Magazine's list of "America's Most Admired Companies."

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