BEECH MOUNTAIN, --  A western North Carolina animal sanctuary is continuing a fight against the town it has called home. For two years, Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary has defended itself against claims made by Beech Mountain, where the nonprofit signed a 30-year lease for land on Buckeye Lake in 1999.

Last year, Beech Mountain claimed Genesis had violated the lease. When that claim was unsuccessful, the town declared the lease invalid. Last week, a Watauga County judge disagreed, according to Genesis attorney Larry Price.

"It's great news for us, because they can no longer raise any issues related to the validity of the lease," Price said. "It's downhill for them. The town is now on the defensive."

The remaining claims made by the town should be resolved within the year, Price said, adding that now that the lease has been declared valid, his goal is to convince a jury in coming months that Genesis should be allowed to continue to operate.

Price and Genesis board members have insisted the town wants the property that Genesis occupies because it is prime lakefront property that could be available to develop.

"They want that piece of property. The turning point was when the judge said the lease is valid," he said. "They have to come in and try to prove those other issues, but they're now they're also faced with a claim that Genesis has filed back against them."

Genesis has filed a counterclaim that Beech Mountain violated its constitutional rights. Before the forced closure of the sanctuary in 2011, Genesis was a draw for tourists and school groups. Since the sanctuary had to vacate the property, Price said donations are down and the organization has struggled to find homes for the wild animals in the area.

Beech Mountain officials or attorneys did not return calls for comment.