ONC owns a nature preserve, the Litle Thicket Nature Sanctuary (LTNS) which comprises 655 acres of wilderness with trails and flowing creeks through quiet forests of huge magnolias, towering pines, holly, and dogwood. It is located about an hour and a half drive northeast of Houston near Evergreen, Texas in the San Jacinto National Forest. There are five meadows comprising a little more than fifty acres and more than twenty miles of foot trails and undeveloped roads. The meadows, roads, trails, and approximately six miles of fence are maintained by hard working volunteers. The remaining area is left as natural forest land. A building houses exhibits and provides a gathering place for members. The LTNS is a natural haven for many local nesting birds and a virtual paradise for botanists. ONC's publication, "Vascular Flora of the Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary," written by ONC members Charles Peterson and Dr. Larry Brown, identifies over 400 plant species found in the sanctuary
During the fall and spring seasons, members participate in monthly "open houses" when we, and visitors, spend a weekend hiking, exploring, and just plain enjoying the sanctuary. Many camp, though the camp sites are primitive. New in 2011 are Dally Days in which members present and participate in discussions and field work on various topics. Dally Days start at 10 AM on Saturday morning at the shelter.
Members are eligible to obtain the combination to the gate after undergoing orientation at the sanctuary. With gate access, members can enjoy the sanctuary at any time.
The shelter contains an extensive collection of reference books and field guides including those of the Richard L. Brister Memorial Library.
Besides volunteers, It takes money to pay taxes and maintain the equipment and facilities. Please consider a tax deductible donation. Make checks payable to ONC Sanctuary Fund and mail to ONC, PO Box 270894, Houston, TX 77277-0894. Thanks.
How to get there: 95k PDF file. Note, the gate is locked and the sign is not up by the side of the road except during visitors' weekends. There are trail maps in the building, but here is one (65k PDF)to help plan your visit.
Hurricane Ike effects on the sanctuary
The destruction caused by hurricane Ike is worse than hurricane Rita. Other than the pine bark beadle destruction this is the worse destruction in the last 30 years or more. There are a tremendous number of trees down. Most are very large oaks. When one of them comes down it brings down many vines and most of the time some other trees. There also were quite a few large pine trees down. Many of these fell on the roads, trails and fences. Almost all the roads, trails and fence rows were impassable because of down trees. Some of these downfalls could be cleared in 15 or so minutes, but most took the better part of an hour.
By November 24 most of the roads have been cleared. Some of the trails can be walked, but many come to a dead end and with the down trees it is very difficult to go around or over the downfall. For example: Swamp Trail is blocked at the entrance nearest the Cove, Big Tree Trail has a major downfall at about half way, Little Jordan is blocked just across the first bridge. None of the fence lines have been cleared completely yet, some haven't been checked out. At least 14 man-days have been spent clearing mostly the roads, a small amount of the heavy work was done on trails and fence rows. Heavy work involves a lot of chain saw work and throwing the sawed debris off the trail. Not included in the 14 man-days are the many hours of lighter trimming that has been done on trails and roads.
Fortunately, there was no damage to any of the buildings on the sanctuary.
It seems like a disaster, but it is a natural phenomenon, difficult to understand, but that is the way it is in nature.
