'Mountain Man' Fights Government to Operate Nature School on His Own Land; Judge Napolitano 'Regrettably' Doesn't Think He Can Win

Eustace Conway, who was featured on the History Channel's "Mountain Men" show, opened a nature school on his private property to teach others how to live like our early American ancestors.

He bought 500 acres of land in Watauga County, North Carolina and built up a compound by hand, which is a problem according to county officials, who say it violates building codes and safety regulations.

Now, Conway has now been ordered to shut it down and has expressed frustration, saying, "This is supposed to be the land of the free. Government is supposed to help people protect their individual liberties and freedom, but that's not what's happening here."

But why now, after 26 years is the local government pressuring him?

Many believe that after he appeared on the "Mountain Men" show, Watauga County decided to take a closer look, but the county says that's not the case.

Conway is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his land. "This is something I've spent this much of my life on. I don't have that much left. If I have to die for this, I don't mind," he said.

Several lawyers and engineers are working on Conway's behalf, and 10,000 people have signed a petition asking the county for a building code change.

Listen to his story:

In addition, Judge Andrew Napolitano weighed in on whether Conway has a chance to win the legal battle. "Regrettably," he said, "I think he'll probably lose because the trend in cases like this is conformity."

Napolitano continued, "The essence of private property is to do what you want [...] as long as you don't hurt anyone and your ability to exclude anyone from private property you want to exclude, even the government."