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Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve
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Reedy Creek Nature Center serves as the gateway to the 727-acre Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and is the source for educational programs and information on the preserve's natural communities, flora, and fauna. The preserve protects the major tributaries of Reedy Creek, a natural heritage site, and areas of cultural significance including the ruins of the Robinson Rockhouse.
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Traveling I-85 to or from Charlotte
Follow I-85 to Exit 45-A (East W.T. Harris Blvd.). Travel on East W.T. Harris Blvd. to the 4th stoplight and turn left onto Rocky River Rd. Follow Rocky River Rd. for approximately ½ mile, turn left at the stop light, and then just past the fire station turn right into Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve. Follow the main park road to a t-intersection and stop sign, then turn right and proceed to the Nature Center parking lot.
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Getting Around Inside the Preserve
Reedy Creek Nature Preserve is a large facility. It is over 1 mile from the entrance to the nature center (see map >1mB PDF). Visitors can walk between the nature preserve and the amenities in adjacent Reedy Creek Park such as the athletic fields, picnic shelters, or playgrounds, but most prefer to drive. To help minimize traffic with the preserve, visitors with bicycles are encouraged to utilize them to travel from one amenity to another. Please remember all bikes must remain on paved roads and pit gravel trails and are not allowed on natural surface hiking trails.
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Amenities
Anglers will find numerous fishing opportunities in both Dragonfly and Slider Ponds, those 16 years of age and older must have a NC State Fishing License. The adjacent 116-acre Reedy Creek Park offers three reservable large (80 person) picnic shelters (#s 1, 2 & 4), a reservable indoor (150 person) picnic shelter (# 3), five reservable small (15 person) picnic shelters (# 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9), one small non-reservable picnic shelter (# 0), numerous picnic tables, an 18-hole disc golf course, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, a playground and swing garden, two softball fields, a soccer field, restrooms, and Barkingham Park dog park. To reserve the athletic fields, contact the Northeast Park District Athletic Coordinator at 704-366-8866.
Reedy Creek Nature Center features live, native animals, an exhibit hall, a classroom, and a gift shop. Outside, visitors can stop and observe nature in action at the National Wildlife Federation certified Backyard Habitat Garden which includes bird feeding stations, butterfly gardens, and a demonstration compost area. Self-interpretive trail guides are available for several nature preserve trails.
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History and Description
The area that is now known as Reedy Creek Nature Preserve has long been used by humans. Native American artifacts have been discovered from the preserve dating back to the Woodland period. John Selwyn received a land grant from King George and occupied the area from around 1745 to 1767. The land was sold to the Robinson family and the Robinson Rock House was built in the late 1700's. Over the next 200 years the land was subdivided and owned or occupied by several families including the Teeters, Norketts, Griers, Wallaces, and McLaughlins.
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Robinson Rockhouse Ruins, c. 1780
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In 1981, the City of Charlotte purchased the land and created Reedy Creek Park. Ownership of the property was transferred to Mecklenburg County after the merger of the City and County Park and Recreation Departments in 1991. Reedy Creek Nature Center (formally Reedy Creek Environmental Center) was built shortly thereafter in 1992.
In 1997, with the passing of the Nature Preserve Master Plan, the area was separated into Reedy Creek Park encompassing approximately 125 acres and Reedy Creek Nature Preserve encompassing, to date, approximately 727 acres. The nature preserve's rolling topography includes mixed pine and hardwood forests, open fields, three lakes, and the headwaters and two tributaries of Reedy Creek. The preserve also protects the South Fork of Reedy Creek natural heritage site, a unique area harboring an unusual assemblage of plant species more typical of the mountain region. The historical significance of the area is also well represented with cabin ruins and the remains of the Robinson Rockhouse.
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TrailsReedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve has 10 miles of trails offering hikers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to explore a variety of terrains while enjoying scenic views of the small lakes, forests, fields, and streams. One of the most popular routes in the preserve leads to the ruins of the Robinson Rockhouse, built circa 1790.
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Mountain bikes are permitted only on pit graveled trails and paved roads within the preserve. Dogs are welcome on preserve trails, but must remain on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times. All trails are marked with color symbols. Click here to download a full-color, pocketsized trail map.
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Flora and FaunaReedy Creek Nature Preserve preserves habitat for 109 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles, and 12 species of amphibians. Kentucky Warblers have been documented during the breeding season in the dense undergrowth along the Reedy Creek floodplain.
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This species is in decline and is ranked as a "high" priority for conservation by the Southeast Partners in Flight working group. This is the last known potential breeding location remaining for this species within the County. Among the other unusual species that have been found at the Preserve are: Conjurer's nut, pale hickory, spotted salamander, Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle, and Broad-winged Hawk. The preserve protects the South Fork of Reedy Creek natural heritage site which represents the best example of a Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest habitat remaining in Mecklenburg County. For a complete list of documented species, click here to download our vertebrate checklist (240kB PDF) or contact us at 704-598-8857.
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Affiliations
Reedy Creek Nature Center is a proud member of the North Carolina Association of Environmental Education Centers and supports Environmental Educator's of North Carolina. The Nature Center is also a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Water Quality Coalition, is a certified National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat, and serves as an ambassador for Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch.
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Nature Preserve Hours:
Monday - Sunday
7:00 a.m. - Sunset
Admission to both the nature center and preserve is free.
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Click here to learn how you can go green and help support the Reedy Creek Nature Center!
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