Ober Sand Savanna

Why You Should Visit
Ober Savanna Preserve features an exceptionally high-quality black oak sand savanna - a world-wide endangered ecosystem. Large black oaks are scattered throughout the area with a gorgeous array of wildflowers and grasses underneath.

Location
Starke County

Ecoregion
Central Tallgrass Prairie

Size
90 Acres

Dedicated
State Nature Preserve, 1989

Owned & Managed By
The Nature Conservancy

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The preserve is open for visitation. However, there are no trails but the terrain will make for an easy hike. For more information please consult the Conservancy’s Preserves Visitation Guidelines.

Directions
From the intersection of U.S. 35 and County Rd. 200S, travel east about 4.5 miles to the preserve located on the north side of the road. There is a small pull-off for 1-2 cars to park.

What to See: Plants and Animals
Set among rolling sand hills and ridges, this globally endangered natural community is home for the state-threatened yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata) and globally endangered fame flower (Talinum rugospermum). Numerous butterflies - like the dusted skipper, mottled duskywing and cobweb skipper - and insects are found among the abundant wildflowers such as prickly pear, bluebonnets and lupine.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing/has Done
Conservancy staff and volunteers have manually removed invasive species and prescribed burns have been used to open up the sire and create ideal conditions for herbaceous sand savanna plants and the lupine - an essential necessity for the rare Persius duskywing butterfly.