The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Journey With Nature Photo TNC

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

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Plan Your Visit

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Get Directions

Why You Should Visit 

A reminder of Indiana's endangered prairie communities, the small Spinn Prairie exemplifies how resilient nature can be by adapting back to its natural landscape after being used for agriculture. The natural communities found here include oak savanna, open mesic and wet prairie, willow shrub thickets and pin oak flatwoods.

Location

White County

Ecoregion

Central Tallgrass Prairie

Size

29 Acres

Dedicated

State Nature Preserve, 1988

Owned & Managed By

The Nature Conservancy

Partners

Indianapolis Power & Light Company

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done

Stewardship workdays are frequent and focus on seed collecting and invasive species removal. The Conservancy is also actively working on reversing the impacts made by man and prescribing burns to facilitate the natural disturbance the prairie depends on.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants and Animals

Acres of six foot tall bluestem grass makes room for colorful prairie plants on the drier upland area. White wild indigo, woodland sunflower, sweet coneflower, blazing star and rattlesnake master are just a few examples. A closer inspection of the vegetation will yield the ragged-fringed orchid, small green or tubercled orchid, nodding ladies' tresses and gentians. A variety of butterflies also make their home at the prairie. Look for the Black Dash, Black Swallowtail, Acadian Hairstreak, Eastern-tailed blue, Viceroy and Monarch. Bird species include Sora Rails, Summer Tanagers, Little Blue Herons and Red-headed Woodpeckers.

Plan Your Visit

Although there is no trail, the accessible terrain and modest size of the preserve makes self-guided tours easy. Please read the Conservancy's Preserve Visitation Guidelines for more information.

Directions

From Lafayette, Indiana, travel north on SR 43 approximately 16 miles to Reynolds (SR 43 becomes US 421 at this point).  Continue north on US 421 for 2 miles and turn right on CR 200 N. Travel 0.2 mile to a "T" intersection and turn right.  The prairie is on the right side and park along the road. 

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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