The Earl and Hazel Jones Center for Conservation is located along a 1-mile stretch of Gunpowder Creek in Burlington, KY. This 92-acre property, owned by the Boone County Conservation District (BCCDKY), is home to a beautiful forest, wetlands, pollinator fields, riparian habitat, and many species of important native plants and wildlife.
The Center is used by BCCDKY to demonstrate sound conservation practices, conduct scientific habitat and wildlife surveys, and educate the public about natural resource management.
Funds to purchase the property came from a donation from the Earl and Hazel Jones Family and the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund.
The Center is also home to the ruins of the historic Crisler-Gulley Mill, which was built in 1817.
Read more about the property in this article from the Northern Kentucky Tribune.
To visit the Center, register for one of our programs. Visit our Calendar of Events page for more details.
Who are Earl and Hazel?
Earl Jones was dedicated to conservation and served as a BCCDKY Board Supervisor for many years. Upon his passing on April 7th, 2014, he and his wife Hazel donated his farm in Walton to BCCDKY and to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. When KDFWR made the decision to sell the farm, BCCDKY Board Supervisors decided to commit the funds to preserving important habitat in Boone County in honor of Earl.
In September 2023, BCCDKY was able to purchase 92.5 acres of riparian habitat along Gunpowder Creek from the Bobby Ray Sebree Family. This property, which is also home to ruins of the historic Crisler-Gulley Mill built in 1817, will provide an excellent opportunity for BCCDKY to demonstrate conservation practices, conduct ecological research with students, and host educational programs and workshops for people of all ages.