The Nature Conservancy in Indiana - Conrad Station Savanna

Conrad Station Savanna

Why You Should Visit
Conrad Station Preserve, which stretches two miles east to west, is a large, high-quality black oak sand savanna. Currently, it is managed as two nature preserves; Conrad Station, east of U.S. 41, is managed by The Nature Conservancy, and Conrad Savanna, west of U.S. 41, is managed by Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves.

In 1998, the Conservancy acquired an additional 336 acres at Conrad Station, which included the abandoned town of Conrad. Originally platted in 1904, remnant foundations from structures such as the old blacksmith shop, church, and school still exist scattered among the black oak trees of the savanna.

Location
Newton County

Size
809 Acres

Dedicated
State Natural Preserve, 1992

Owned & Managed By
The Nature Conservancy and Division of Nature Preserves

Partners
Cedar Lake Fish & Game Club, Indiana Heritage Trust, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Waterfowl USA, Wild Turkey Federation and North America Wetlands Conservation Act

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The preserve is open to the public with a easy to moderate trail including interpretive signs. Please consult the Conservancy’s Preserves Visitation Guidelines for visitation information.

Directions
From I-65 take S.R. 114 west to U.S. 41. Take U.S. 41 north approximately 11 miles until you reach County Rd. 725N. Turn right (east) and proceed for 0.5 mile. Park in the lot.
From Lake Village, travel south on U.S. 41 for 2 miles to C.R. 700 N and turn left (east). Continue driving until a sharp right hand turn and then continue to the parking lot straight ahead.

What to See: Plants and Animals
Conrad Station Preserve contains broad flat areas alternating with rolling sand dunes. Although the dunes were opened and sculpted by the wind after the last glaciation, today they are covered by trees, grasses, and sedges. Oak savanna is the predominant plant community on these dry sands, with black and white oaks being the most common trees.

Typical sand savanna plants that dominate this area include junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pennsylvanica), porcupine grass (Stipa spartea), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Other more showy savanna plants include hairy puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), cleft phlox (Phlox bifida), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) and sand milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis).

What The Nature Conservancy has Done/is Doing
For the past several years, volunteer stewardship workdays have focused on restoring the savanna, both by the physical removal of woody plant species and the re-introduction of prescribed fires to maintain this community.

For More Information
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves