Split Rock Conservation Park

The mission of Wildlife Conservation Kentucky, Inc. is to actively promote the conservation of Kentucky's biodiversity through:

Developing Split Rock Conservation Park to offer innovative, conservation oriented educational programs to students in the Northern Kentucky area.
Ecological restoration projects on the Split Rock site to enhance biodiversity and to use as examples in our educational programs.
Promoting the appreciation of our wildlife heritage and good land stewardship.
Encouraging community involvement through awareness and understanding of local conservation issues.

It is our intent to work in collaboration with local partners to achieve our mission in conservation and to be an active and productive part of the community.

« Back

History

The sight we now know as “Split Rock” has been the object of human fascination and interest for thousands of years. The unique glacial formation is an outwash from the Illinoian glacier that extended into Northern Kentucky hundreds of thousands of years ago. No other site in the area offers better access to evidence of how our landscape was formed. This ancient rareity has seen the birth of the Ohio River and the mass extinctions of the Plistocene megafauna. Its prominent position on the Ohio River was no doubt the subject of curiosity and spiritual interest for humans for thousands of years. The Split Rock glacial conglomerate is a rare and outstanding example of local glacial geology.

History of Split Rock The awesome presence of the Ohio River, the serene beauty of Woolper Creek, and diverse forest and grasslands at the site attracted the first European explorers and continue to intrigue local residence today. A plan to develop the area as a marina in recent history failed and once again the property is being appreciated for its natural beauty and diversity. Wildlife is abundant for close observation and study and the location of the site affords an excellent opportunity to study the colorful local history.

As one explores the park, occasionally evidence of ancient human activity can be found along the Ohio River or on the high bluffs along Woolper Creek. Native American activity at Split Rock dates back thousands of years and with the help of professional archaeologists and the Boone County Preservation Review Board, several archaeological surveys have revealed evidence of cultural habitation and contribute to the body of knowledge about local archaeology. We make every effort to incorporate this information into educational programs at the park.

Nearby and convenient access to natural areas in Northern Kentucky where people can experience and learn about local wildlife resources is almost non-existent. Children especially need opportunities to explore the outdoors, learn about local biodiversity and gain the experience to make informed decisions for future development. These decisions will ultimately affect their quality of life. Split Rock Conservation Park will concentrate on developing outdoor, conservation oriented programs for schools and other groups. Few opportunities for this type of activity exist in the Northern Kentucky area.

Split Rock Conservation Park is located in Western Boone County, in Northern Kentucky and is easily reached from anywhere within the Northern Kentucky area. Educational field trips to the park are available by appointment to groups interested in local conservation and outdoor education opportunities. These unique programs have been well received by schools and youth groups from all over the Northern Kentucky/ Greater Cincinnati area. In summer months the program focus is on groups such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, civic groups, 4-H groups and other youth related organizations. We will adjust our programs to the group’s interest and age group. During the winter months when travel to the park is not practical outreach programs will be available to schools in the Northern Kentucky area.