07/16/2026
A Sanctuary for Natives🌾
When you close your eyes and picture yourself frolicking in a field of wildflowers, you likely are picturing a field that closely resembles the Cherokee Prairie Natural Area.
It is a part of the Presson-Oglesby Preserve, consisting of 2 natural areas, part of a system of 79 “natural areas” in the state of Arkansas.
The Cherokee Prairie Natural Area sits just west of the intersection of hwy 60 and hwy 217, approximately 2 miles north of Charleston, Arkansas.
This conservation program enables the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) to carefully steward the land, promoting the growth of the once-flourishing tallgrass prairie flora and fauna. Wildflowers you may see blooming include: Yellow Rudbeckia Grandiflora, Indian Paintbrush, Winecup, Spiderwort, Coneflowers, Milkweed, and Prairie Blazing Star.
The prairie was established in 1983 and consists of 584.4 acres, split by Prairie Creek. It is more than just a pretty field of wildflowers. It is a time capsule taking us back into the prairies of the past and the way our home looked before human fingerprints.
The system of natural areas in Arkansas, such as the Grand Cherokee, preserves an ecosystem of our heritage that would likely be extinct without the ANHC. It is a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that has mowed and maintained walking paths wrapping around the landscape. The area is for foot traffic only and follows “Leave No Trace” principles.
It offers a sanctuary for not only the native folks, but the native birds, reptiles, pollinators, and plants.
