List of nature centers in Kentucky (original) (raw)

This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Kentucky.

To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Name

Location

County

Region

Summary

Beckley Creek Park

Louisville

Jefferson

North Central

616 acres, includes the PNC Achievement Center for Education and Interpretation, operated by The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Berea College Forestry Outreach Center

Berea

Madison

East Central

website, The Pinnacles hiking trails, education center, operated by Berea College which owns over 9,000 acres of forest land

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Clermont

Bullitt

North Central

14,000-acre arboretum, forest, and nature preserve, education center, art gallery, 35 miles of trails

Blackacre State Nature Preserve

Louisville

Jefferson

North Central

170 acre farm, trails, 19th century homestead, environmental education programs

Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge

Danville

Boyle

Bluegrass

website, 500 acres, features the Mary Ashby Cheek Nature Center

Clay Hill Memorial Forest

Campbellsville

Taylor

South Central Kentucky

website, 158-acre educational and research woodland that is managed by Campbellsville University as a regional center for environmental education

Clyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary & Life Adventure Center

Frankfort

Franklin

Bluegrass

website, 374 acres, operated by the Central Kentucky Audubon Society

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

Goshen

Oldham

North Central

website, 168 acres, exhibits include ecosystem dioramas, Native American life, Kentucky fish, natural history learning areas

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary

Lexington

Fayette

Bluegrass

website, 287 acres, located in the Kentucky River Palisades, managed by an independent board in conjunction with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, features the Winifred W. Haggart Nature Center

Fort Wright Nature Center

Fort Wright

Kenton

Northern Kentucky

website, 13 acre park, operated by the city

Gladie Visitor Center

Stanton

Powell

Central

website, cultural heritage, natural history and geology of the Red River Gorge Geological Area and Clifty Wilderness in the Daniel Boone National Forest

Jenny Wiley State Resort Park

Prestonsburg

Floyd

Eastern

2,871 acres, includes a nature center

Joe Ford Nature Center

Owensboro

Daviess

Western

website, 14 acres, operated by the city

John James Audubon State Park

Henderson

Henderson

Western

About 700 acres, features the Audubon Museum, with exhibits about John James Audubon's life and art and a nature center with hands-on exhibits

Land Between the Lakes Woodlands Nature Station

Trigg

Western

Outdoor native wildlife enclosures and native plant trails, indoor exhibits, programs, website

Lost River Cave

Bowling Green

Warren

South Central Kentucky

cave tours by boat, 68 acres with 3 miles of trails, nature center

Louisville Nature Center

Louisville

Jefferson

North Central

41 acres in Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve

Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center

Livingston

Rockcastle

South Central Kentucky

website, operated by Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Slade

Powell

Central

2,200 acre forested park and nature preserve with 22 miles of trails, a 60-acre lake, nature center

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

Pineville

Bell

Southeast

1,159 acres, includes the Pine Mountain Interpretive Center, golf course and mini golf

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Lexington

Fayette

Bluegrass

website, 734 acres, over 10 miles of trails, nature center, operated by the city

Salato Wildlife Education Center

Frankfort

Franklin

Bluegrass

website, operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, includes indoor exhibits and outdoor trails with native wildlife on display, 262 acres, 4 miles of trails

Toyota Environmental Education Center

Georgetown

Scott

North Central

website, operated by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, park with 1 mile trail, education programs

Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Jamestown

Russell

South Central Kentucky

Features a visitor/environmental center, exhibits about fish, natural history and the environment