Calli Nature Preserve

Calli Nature Preserve
To visit the Violet and Louis Calli Nature Preserve you will need to find County Road 40E, about a mile east of downtown North Vernon, Indiana on US 50. The gravel road begins just east of the bridge across the Vernon Fork of the Muscatatuck River. After turning south on the gravel road, you will travel about a quarter mile to the parking lot, which is on the left. The road dead ends at this place.
Violet and Louis Calli
The land for the Violet and Louis Calli Nature Preserve was owned by Dr. Louis Calli and his wife Violet. Dr. Calli was a physician who practiced for over fifty years in North Vernon. His wife Violet established the first Youth Center in North Vernon and was awarded the Governor’s Award for Community Service. The Nature Preserve is owned by the Jennings County Community Foundation, who manages the place in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Dr. Louis J Calli, Sr (August 15, 1910 – March 14, 1999)
The son of Salvatore and Rosa Vecchio Calli, Louis was native to Canastota, New York. During high school he playd tennis, winning the Central New York tennis championship at sixteen. He also played semi-professional basball from that time until 1930. He graduated from of Canastota High School in 1925 and attended John’s University, graduating in 1929. He attended St. Louis University Medical School, graduating from that school in 1934. While in St. Louis he met, and married, Violet Beckett. The couple would have three children. Stationed at Fort Knox during World War II, he served as a captain. After the war, he migrated to North Vernon, where he practiced for fifty years. During his lifetime he became a Kentucky Colonel and a Sagamore of the Wabash. The local American Legion honored him for his service to local veterans.
The Preserve
The Violet and Louis Calli Nature Preserve consists of 180 acres. The trail head for the self guiding trail is adjacent to the parking lot on the same side of the road. The trail is just a bit over two miles long. There is a brochure available in a box at the trail head which describes 18 stations along the course of the trail. There is also a notepad for you to register, just for fun.
The Trail
The trail begins with a pleasant stroll in the forest. It then follows the course of a spring fed stream. The best part of this hike is the extensive section which follows the course of the Vernon Fork of the Muscatatuck River. Some of the hike is along high bluffs overlooking the river, but there are spots which allow access to sand bars extending out into the river. In early to mid April this portion of the trail is emblazoned with thousands of Virginia bluebells in full bloom. These flowers line the river bank, the trail sometimes passing through vast beds of them. There are also some old hemlock stands along the river on these limestone bluffs. The trail finishes up by passing through some open fields before finally exiting at the parking lot on the opposite side of the road. The Violet and Louis Calli Nature Preserve Nature Trail is a fun and pretty place to visit for a hike.

Calli Nature Preserve
1200 North Private Road 40 East,
North Vernon, IN 47265