The Boone County Conservation District will host an open house at the Earl and Hazel Jones Center for Conservation on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering the public a rare chance to explore 92 acres of protected habitat in northern Kentucky. The event, originally reported by the NKy Tribune, will showcase the region's natural and historical significance.

The center, located at 2588 Camp Ernst Lane in Burlington, features diverse ecosystems including forest, native meadows, a vernal pond, and nearly one mile of shoreline along Gunpowder Creek. The Boone County Conservation District, established in 1942, purchased the property in 2023 and has since managed invasive species, planted native vegetation, and conducted biological surveys.

Three miles of hiking trails will be open during the event, where visitors can explore independently or join guided hikes. Visitors can expect to see large trees, colorful wildflowers, fish, frogs, and migratory birds that inhabit the site.

The property holds significant archaeological importance. It was once home to the historic Crisler-Gulley Grist Mill, built in 1817. Visitors can observe the mill's ruins and remnants of a canal that once fed water from Gunpowder Creek to the structure. Local historian Bridget Striker will be on site to discuss the mill's history.

The center is named in honor of the Earl and Hazel Jones family, who donated their estate to the conservation district in 2013. Earl Jones, who passed away in 2014, served as a BCCDKY board supervisor for many years and was dedicated to conservation efforts in the county.

The center, which is not open to the public on a daily basis, will close if weather becomes unsafe. For updates and cancellation notices, visitors should check the Boone County Conservation District website or call 859-544-5281.