Floracliff was established as a nature sanctuary by the late Dr. Mary Wharton, former botany professor and Biology Department head at Georgetown College. Dr. Wharton began acquiring the Floracliff property in 1958. The property is located on the Kentucky River in Fayette County. The Floracliff Board of Directors owns the preserve and jointly manages it with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. This area was dedicated on March 15, 1996. Floracliff is 287 acres of old field upland and second-growth forest dominated by maple, oak and hickory. In addition to having a rich and diverse wildflower display, Floracliff also harbors a significant geological feature. Below Elk Lick Falls is a tufa formation, which resembles a frozen waterfall. It is considered one of the best tufa formations in the eastern United States. Similar to stalagmites in caves, tufas are formed when minerals within dripping water are deposited on a surface. Travertine is the primary mineral composing this tufa. The formation is 61 feet high and 8-12 feet in diameter. The rich flora, ravines, cliffs and waterfalls of Floracliff make it one of the more scenic areas in central Kentucky.
Visitation to the preserve is by appointment only and is restricted to small groups led by approved leaders.
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Upcoming events at Floracliff SNP
Herpetology with Zeb Weese
When: Saturday, May 17, 2008
Start time: 10 a.m. EDT
Cost: $4 per person or $10 per family
Join KSNPC's Eastern Regional Preserves Manager Zeb Weese on this hike to find some herps in Elk Lick Creek.
Garlic Mustard Pull
When: Saturday, June 7, 2008
Start time: 10 a.m. EDT
Cost: Free
Help protect our native species by participating in the volunteer effort to remove this invasive plant from the preserve.
Please note that all events require advance registration.
Contact Beverly James, the manager of Floracliff, directly:
Floracliff State Nature Preserve
P.O. Box 4006
Lexington, KY 40544
Phone: 859-351-7770
E-mail: Floracliff@aol.com
Visit the official Floracliff Web site.
