Lloyd W. Bender

       Memorial Forest

       Nature Preserve

Southwest of Albion in Noble County. From Fort Wayne (I-69 exit 109B), take US 33 northwest through Churubusco to Merriam. Turn right (north) onto SR 9 and drive about 5-½ miles. Turn left (west) onto 100N and after 1-½ miles turn right (north) onto River Road. At the first curve look for the ACRES parking lot on your left. Driving distance from I-69 to the preserve is 26 miles.

A 1-mile loop trail leads one through the south part of 116 acres gifted in 1966 by Lloyd W. Bender.

61 of the 116 acres have been dedicated through IDNR's Division of Nature Preserves.

On the south branch of the Little Elkhart River, the preserve presents a variety of plant communities - upland oak-hickory forest, old herbaceous fields, and lowland forest and sedge meadow.  The outstanding natural feature is the old-growth lowland forest adjacent to the river, where royal and cinnamon fern grow.  The meandering broad floodplain is know as "the spreads" of the Little Elkhart River.  Sizeable tree species include swamp white and burr oaks, red elm, black willow, green and black ash, cottonwood and red maple.

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