Contact Information
8588 Route 148
Marion, IL 62959
618-997-3344
Established in 1947, Crab Orchard is unique among national refuges because it hosts industrial operations within its boundaries. The refuge's land was transferred to the public by the War Department, which had run the Illinois Ordnance Plant there during World War II. The congressional act mandating the transfer stipulated that industry could continue to use the space, and maintaining that industry is one of the refuge's aims (albeit a diminishing aim, as industry slowly reduces its presence).The other goals of Crab Orchard are more typical of national lands: recreational use, agricultural development, and wildlife conservation. The refuge's 43,600 acres, half of which are a wildlife sanctuary and closed to the public, host a 4,000-acre designated wilderness, more than 5,000 acres of cropland, and three manmade lakes teeming with fish. The generally flat terrain is enlivened by forested hills in the south and chock-full of wildlife. Over one million people visit Crab Orchard each year, mainly to enjoy the lakes but also for wildlife observation, nature walks, and environmental education. Five youth camps on Little Grassy Lake provide a place for children (about 25,000 annually) to learn about nature and the refuge.
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