Hidden away in far northwestern Indiana (and northeastern Illinois) is a stunning, tragically underrated nature preserve where you can go back in time. The lands here have been lovingly, carefully restored to their original, natural glory like they once were - and now, you can even view a live bison herd here! Kankakee Sands is a breathtaking, 10,000-acre stretch of perfectly-restored tallgrass prairie land, and the Efroymson Restoration contained as part of the preserve is another 8,400 acres that connect several different natural attractions such as the Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area, Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, Conrad Savanna Nature Preserve, and Conrad Station Savanna. Check it out, and stay a while:
Now, sure, you can't literally time-travel back to the days long before the restoration was ever necessary, but the grasslands are just as stunning as they were long ago thanks to the long-standing effort of the Nature Conservancy.
A tallgrass prairie might not sound all that interesting, but I promise it's gorgeous. There's something so elegant and perfectly Midwestern about it.
The Nature Conservancy began work on restoring these lands in 1997.
Over the last few centuries, these grasslands had been turned into farmlands, and it was up to the Nature Conservancy to reverse this.
And reverse it they did; today, it's been returned to its stunning former glory, complete with bison.
Once upon a time, bison were common and native to Indiana. Unfortunately, by 1790 they were all but exterminated. They, too, needed to be restored to this land to make things right again.
In October 2016, a small herd of bison from Wind Cave National Park were introduced to Kankakee Sands.
Today, the herd is large and thriving, with no less than 90 beautiful bison that you can actually observe yourself should you come to the preserve.
There are a number of trails and overlooks weaving all throughout the park, and many of them are perfect for bison-watching.
It's not even just bison you can observe here - it's also an amazing destination for bird watching, plant spotting, and more. It's a nature lover's dream come true, if you ask me. I personally will never be bored of it.
So, come to Kankakee Sands for the bison - but linger a while and explore.
You're sure to find all sorts of jaw-dropping delights no matter where you turn.
For more information about Kankakee Sands, be sure to check out the official Nature Conservancy website. Wear good shoes, and bring binoculars - the bison are able to roam, so you may not get to see them up-close.
What are your favorite underrated gems in Indiana? Let me know!
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