Ivanhoe North Nature Preserve
Hobart Street, Gary, IN 46406
Location & Phone number
About the Business
Welcome to Ivanhoe North Nature Preserve
Nestled in the heart of Gary, Indiana, on Hobart Street, the Ivanhoe North Nature Preserve offers a rare glimpse into a globally unique natural community known as "dune and swale." This remarkable landscape, formed thousands of years ago when ancient glacial Lake Chicago receded, features a series of linear sandy beach ridges interspersed with narrow wetlands. This distinctive topography, reminiscent of the rings of a tree, can be seen extending inland from the shores of Lake Michigan in aerial photographs from the early 1930s.
Despite rapid industrial and residential development along the lakeshore that has diminished much of this landscape, Ivanhoe remains a preserved fragment of this extraordinary environment. The preserve spans both an east and west unit, with the east 40 acres originally plotted for residential development. Since the mid-1980s, The Conservancy has worked diligently to acquire these lots, transforming the area into a thriving patchwork of upland savanna, prairie, forest, and wetland through the efforts of volunteers, interns, partner organizations, and financial support from public grants.
Ivanhoe North Nature Preserve is a testament to the power of conservation and community effort. Visitors can explore the diverse zones of the dune and swale complex, from the beach and foredunes to open interdunal swales and forested dune ridges. Each zone is characterized by its unique vegetation and sand accumulation, creating a rich mosaic of black oak savanna, prairie, and wetlands.
For those wishing to visit this exceptional preserve, access is straightforward. From the I-80/94 and I-65 interchange, travel west on I-80/94 and follow the signs to the Cline Avenue North exit (S.R. 912). Continue north to U.S. 20 E (W. 5th Avenue), then turn left onto Hobart Street. Drive north until the street ends, move the barrier to enter, park, and replace the barrier. We recommend placing a sign on your dashboard indicating your visit to the preserve.
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of Ivanhoe North Nature Preserve—a hidden gem in Lake County where history, nature, and community converge.
Reviews
"One of the highest quality habitats left in northern Indiana"
"Ivanhoe Dune and Swale Nature Preserve is owned by TNC, not Shirley Heinze. (Shirley Heinze owns the nearby preserve called "Ivanhoe South"). Open dawn to dusk. Parking details (directly from TNC's website): "Drive north until Hobart St. ends, move the barrier, drive in, park, and move the barrier back. You may want to place a sign on your front dashboard indicating that you are there to visit the preserve.""
"Very large Dune and Swale geography preserve, but where is the public access? Appears to be a preserve only with no public hiking trails. The Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve is part of Shirley Heintz Land. Trust with a great hiking trail. Go there for a great hike!"
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