Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, a 50,000 acre oasis of grasslands and forests sprawling across Ripley, Jennings, and Jefferson Counties in southeast Indiana.

Refuge History: For a very long time before the arrival of European settlers, the land that is now Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge was occupied by various Native American tribes. In 1811, the Grouseland Purchase acquired the land from the tribes and white settlers moved into the region using the timber and limestone to build villages. General John Hunt Morgan and 2,000 Confederate Army soldiers passed through the region during the Civil War.

In 1940, during WWII before the U.S. entered the war, the Army saw the land as a good location for ordnance testing. The Government used the power of eminent domain to purchase the land and over 400 families were relocated to make way for the 55,000 acres Jefferson Proving Ground. Over the next half-century the Army managed the site which served an important purpose for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. In 1995, the Bass Realignment and Closure Act forced closure of the Jefferson Proving Ground. Finally in June of 2000, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge was established. Wildlife: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, designated as a Globally Important Bird Area, helps protect the home of numerous wild critters including otters, beavers, ducks, herons, and many others. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge boasts the Old Timber's fishing lake and so much more. Come on out and explore.