The American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) was once an important tree species in the eastern United States. Following the devastating effect of the chestnut blight in the early 1900s, this species has been virtually extirpated from the overstory of the eastern deciduous forest. To facilitate the return of this species to its natural place in the overstory, The American Chestnut Foundation will soon release seeds that contain genetic material responsible for blight resistance, but preserve the genetic heritage of the American chestnut. However, the necessary requirements for site selection, site preparation, and competition control are not well understood for this species and will be essential if restoration efforts are to be successful. The goal of this study was to address these concerns and examine the effects of survival and growth of chestnut within a diverse forest management regime. Seedlings were experimentally grown in three mixed oak forests subjected to thinning, burning, a thin+burn treatment and an untreated control. Overall plant biomass between years 2002 and 2003 differed significantly among treatments for all aspects of plant growth in the thin and thin+burn treatments. As expected, there was a significant increase in light availability in the thinned treatments, and this produced a noticeable effect on seedling growth rates. A more detailed multiple regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (P ≤ 0.05) in 2002 and 2003 between light and most biomass parameters. Soil magnesium, nitrate, potassium, and sand were also significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.05) to chestnut biomass. Thus, site fertility should also be considered in reintroduction efforts. While site quality may influence growth, light conditions seem overwhelmingly important. Therefore, we recommend that American chestnut seeds be planted in areas with moderate to high light conditions (recently disturbed), with low surrounding competing vegetation (possibly after a burn) for optimal growth benefits.