Event held to celebrate Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve’s 50th anniversary

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF FULTS HILL–Randy Nyboer, at left, retired from the Illinois Natural History Survey, is pictured speaking to hikers about his time surveying Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve for the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory initiative back in the 1970s. Photo by Katherine Accettura.

In October 2020, the Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve in Monroe County reached a significant milestone as it had been 50 years since it was dedicated as a nature preserve and national natural landmark site. With the pandemic restricting many activities, the anniversary celebration was postponed a year and held over the weekend on Oct. 9.

“It was fantastic,” Clifftop Membership Chair Joann Fricke said of the event.

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves hosted the belated anniversary event.

For more from the anniversary event, please see this week’s print edition.