Family Creek County donates 12,000 acres to the wildlife refuge

A Creek County family recently donated their 12,000-acre farm to The Nature Conservancy.

TNC said the land is in “excellent” condition and supports plants and animals. The previous owners wanted the public to enjoy the space.

Just outside Sapulpa lies 12,000 hectares of rolling hills and forests. On a clear spring day, the sun shines through the leaves of trees that are hundreds of years old. If you look closer, you’ll see that creatures like lizards also live here.

“It’s a very rare, unique situation for us,” Preserve Manager Jeanine Lackey said.

After more than 40 years of prescribed burns and care, Bob and Andie Jackson donated the land, which Bob inherited from his grandparents in the 1980s. The ranch is now the Pearl Jackson Crosstimbers Preserve, named for Bob’s grandmother.

‘He could never see it being developed. So that’s why he really wanted it to be protected forever. And now it will be,” Lackey said.

The domain extends as far as the eye can see, and much more. Lackey said it is currently difficult to access, but there are waterfalls, streams and scenic views, and the public will eventually have access to some of it.

“Look at the butterflies, take a bird walk, look at frogs and toads, look at a pond, look at some dragonflies,” Lackey said.

Before the public can enjoy the space, it is expected to take years of work and planning.

“I’ve run 150 miles here, so I’ve seen quite a bit of it,” Matt Hagy said.

Hagy is the land manager of the reserve.

“I’ve seen a few roadrunners, a few, lots of deer, a few birds of prey, I’ve seen a few snakes and lizards. We’ve got a little bit of everything as far as Cross Timbers goes,” he said.

Lackey envisions field trips and various hiking trails in what she describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime” gift.

“The amount of acreage that they donated, that doesn’t happen very often. And to actually have a property that big, close to an urban center like Tulsa, that’s still intact is really amazing,” Lackey said. said.

Turning a private paradise into a protected space for everyone.