Thompson Road Preserve Progress – Updated October 2025
In 2022, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) worked with residents to preserve a 323-acre farm at the intersection of Thompson Road, Rt. 120, and Fleming Roads, in Bull Valley. Soon after, the property was named Thompson Road Preserve.
TLC conducted a prescribed burn at Thompson Road Preserve in March 2022. Plans are in the works to do another burn in the fall of 2025 or 2026. An 80-100 acre section of this 290 acre site will be burned by volunteers. Bruce Killips, the site steward, estimates a crew of at least 10 people will be needed to keep the fire organized and controlled.
March, 2022: A portion of the Thompson Road site where land is lying fallow and will be planted in a few years.
In May 2023 The Land Conservancy of McHenry County hosted its first restoration workday at Thompson Road Preserve.
In December 2023 TLC staff took a winter walk on the property to view progress on the site and to discuss future plans.
Brad Wych and a crew of volunteers helped out at the Thompson Road Farm workday in April 2024. The crew was able to remove some invasive trees to make way for native prairie habitat.
Volunteers and TLC staff performed an Oak Rescue at Thompson Road Preserve on New Year’s Eve of 2023! This fabulous group cleared nearly 1/2 acre of invasives in a few hours.
McHenry County Audubon has been doing owl surveys at Thompson Road Preserve. One of the species detected has been a Northern saw-whet owl, our smallest owl at 8” in length. (Photo of owl is from another site. Courtesy of Randy Schietzelt.)
This species comes down from the North Woods to overwinter in larger woods and hedgerows in our area. This highlights another conservation benefit of the Land Conservancy. We provide habitat for migrant species in every season, and this helps maintain healthy wildlife populations across many areas of North America. TLC’s system of preserves and easements is a multifaceted effort to preserve biodiversity in McHenry County.
The Bull Valley Garden Club organized a pollinator garden planting at the entrance to Thompson Road Preserve in June 2025. The project they named “A Prairie Promise” will beautify the entrance, encourage pollinators and enhance the visitor experience at the site. You can learn more about the planting here.
Future Plans
Plans for the site for the site include continued restoration of the preserve. TLC hosts workdays here on Mondays twice a month and can always use more volunteers – upcoming workdays are listed here.
Electricity will be added to the parking lot.
A picnic area has been added, as well as benches for resting and enjoying the view.
A public viewing area will be created on Thompson Road for observation of the many wetland species of plants and animals, including the seasonally resident sandhill cranes. The farm features scenic, rolling terrain and provides unimpeded natural views from almost every area of the property.
Thank you to all who have contributed to this project!
A New Kiosk
In September 2025, Zach Micho, Eagle Scout candidate, and his fellow scouts of Troop 153 for building the new kiosk at the entrance to Thompson Road Preserve.
