Atherton Island Natural Area

The property was originally settled by the Sciurba Family in the 1920s. They had emigrated from Italy passing through Ellis Island and then settled on the property in Lyford Indiana. During the depression, the family was forced to move to Chicago to find employment. When approached by OLC with our desire to purchase for preservation, she said “This is the phone call I have been waiting for forty years.” A purchase price was arrived at and after several months of legal procedures, the acquisition was completed on May 29, 2015. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Jim and Joy Nardi 80 acres of beautiful upland woods and tallgrass prairie (site of the former Nardi Orchard) were added to the previously protected area of Atherton Island Natural Area (December of 2017) for a total of 108 protected acres.  Since then another 142 acres have been acquired via private donations and the IDNR’s Next Level Conservation Trust funds for a total of 250 acres to be protected forever! Atherton Island Natural Area was officially opened to the public on October 27, 2024.

Why is it called Atherton Island when it isn’t surrounded by water? Lisa Baer, Treasurer of OLC created a video that explains why: Atherton Island and the Glacier Melt