About the Danada Equestrian Center

The Natural History of the Danada Equestrian Center

The rolling terrain that greets the eye at Danada Forest Preserve was created nearly 10,000 years ago from glacial melt, resulting in the Wheaten moraine. Today, the wetlands, woodlands, and prairie created on this terrain are home to a host of plant and animal life. In the area west of Naperville Road, you will find a large wetland complex interspersed with savanna and fields. While the natural prairie is gone, a 35 acre region has been the target of intensive restoration efforts that have yielded healthy, restored native ecosystems. The Forest Preserve District's resource management program established many native wild grasses such as prairie dock, big bluestem, Western sunflower, purple prairie clover, golden Alexander, and a variety of asters and goldenrod to restore this prairie to its natural splendor.

This ecosystem complex attracts a variety of wildlife including Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Bob-O-Link, and Grasshopper Sparrow, and the swampy areas have become a nesting ground for Black-crowned Night Heron as well.

Behind the main barn in an area informally called Parson's Grove, presumably named after an early settler, lies the double-looped nature trail through an open savanna. The columbine, shooting stars, Joe Pye weed, ironweed, toothwort, and spring beauty that bloom wild in this area thrive because of volunteer efforts that opened up this once-choked woodland. These open spaces are interspersed with tall trees that attract a variety of birds, making the savanna downright noisy at times with all the chatter. Eastern bluebirds, Great-crested Flycatchers, Indigo Bunting, and an assortment of hawks and owls live together here. The area also attracts deer, fox, and even coyotes as a suitable feeding and hunting ground.

An abundance of smaller wildlife can be found closer to the ground. The prairies are filled with 13-lined ground squirrels, mice, moles, and weasels. The wetlands provide a home for painted turtles, chorus and leopard frogs, and in the grasses fox snakes and Midland's brown snakes slither along.

Rice Lake

The 40-acre Rice Lake, located south of Butterfield Road east of Naperville Road, was developed in conjunction with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in exchange for fill material during construction of Interstate 355. The maximum depth is 20 feet. Fishing is permitted and reported to be good.

Danada House

The 19 room estate house, formerly the home of Dan and Ada Rice, is available for formal receptions, meetings, showers, parties, and other catered functions. The Danada House is surrounded by formal gardens extending into the forest preserve. The house accommodates about 150 people for meetings, parties and weddings. The adjacent tent holds 200 people.

To obtain information, phone (630) 668-5392. The Equestrian Center holds it annual Volunteer Holiday Party and various volunteer meetings and fund raisers at the Danada House. For more information, also look at the Friend's of Danada Web site.