Blair Preserve
(Athens Conservancy)
The Blair Preserve was purchased in two sections in the early 2000s using the Clean Ohio Conservantion Fund. The 55-acre Addington tract was purchased in 2003, and the 20-acre Blair tract was purchased in 2005. The Addington Tract had been logged, but the Blair tract had not. The Blair tract had actually been owned by the Butrick family, with a verbal agreement to sell it to the Conservancy, but before the the Conservancy could act, the Butricks sold it to Scott Blower, who then agreed to sell it but could not wait for the Clean Ohio fund to make money available. Brian Blair purchased the property to hold it until the Conservancy could act to purchase it through the Clean Ohio Fund. The Addington Tract was initially purchased in the name of the Appalachian Ohio Alliance, because at the time of purchase, the Athens Conservancy had not yet acquired its tax-exempt status and so was not yet eligible to make grants to the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.

The Blair Preserve extensively borders Strouds Run State Park. It provides critical right-of-way for the Trace Trail, and features the Chestnut Grove Camp, the only backpacking campsite in Athens County, which is reached from the Trace Trail via the Tunnel Rock Trail. Deer hunting is allowed on the Blair Preserve without special arrangement.

Note: See the camping information. If camping, be sure to print out the dash placard and post it.

To get to the Blair Preserve from Athens, take Carpenter Street west (turn left from Court Street or East State Street, going from downtown). Carpenter becomes Lancaster Street. Take this to the stoplight at the very top of the hill and turn right. This is at first Lancaster Street, then becomes Columbia Avenue and then Strouds Run Road. Continue to a stop sign just after crossing goes over US-33 on an overpass. Turn right at the stop sign (it is still called Strouds Run Road after turning) and drive 2.1 miles to enter Strouds Run State Park. Park at the first parking area on the right, just past the fields. Take the Trace Trail into the preserve.