Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

What Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve does

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve is a 501(c)(3) public charity operating a 170-acre nature preserve in Goshen, Kentucky, founded in 1975. It serves the Louisville metro region with free public access, drawing more than 60,000 visitors annually to its trails, habitats, and historically significant structures including the Mahan Manor (1806–1808), an 1803 Springhouse, and an 1828 dairy barn currently being adaptively reused. The preserve combines land conservation, heritage preservation, and community recreation under a non-profit governance model led by Board President Barry Hines and Executive Director Tavia Cathcart Brown.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream and non-profit in structure, drawing on individual and major-gift donations (including the annual Butterfly Ball gala, which raised approximately $350,000 in 2026), facility and venue rentals of its historic structures for weddings and corporate events, tuition from Thrive Forest School (Louisville's first nature-based preschool), and fee-based educational programming delivered to more than 3,200 students across 40 partner schools. Community engagement is reinforced by 4,975+ annual volunteer hours.

The preserve is in an active capital-expansion phase. A new Future Visitor Center is under construction with a planned Summer 2027 opening, and the organization is scaling its education function through new hires and the Thrive Forest School launch. Its business model relies on continued fundraising maturity, rental demand for its heritage real estate, and recurring tuition and school-partnership revenue to fund both operations and the visitor-center buildout.

Name

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

Legal name

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

Website

https://creaseymahannaturepreserve.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve is a 170-acre, 501(c)(3) public nature preserve in Goshen, Kentucky, offering free public access, historic-venue rentals, and nature-based education including Louisville's first forest preschool.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature preserve and environmental education services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Nature preserve operations
• Environmental education programs
• Nature-based preschool
• Outdoor recreation services
• Facility rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Goshen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Donations: As a public charity and visitor-supported organization, donations from visitors and the community form a core revenue stream. The preserve relies heavily on grants and sponsorships.
2. Facility Rentals: Revenue from renting out facilities including pavilions, field house, camping grounds, fire pits, and wedding/event spaces. Pricing varies by venue and guest count.
3. Educational Programs: Revenue from school field trips ($6/student), summer camps, Thrive Forest School tuition, and scout programs. Special arrangements available for Title 1 schools.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the Butterfly Ball gala ($200/ticket) and Haunted Hike ($8-10/person). These events generate significant revenue and community engagement.
5. Grants and Sponsorships: Reliance on grants and corporate sponsorships to meet operational needs. Major sponsors support the Butterfly Ball and other initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Operates a 170-acre non-profit nature preserve providing free year-round public access to trails, gardens, a nature center, and historic buildings. Delivers environmental education through school field trips, scouting programs, summer camps, and Louisville's first nature-based preschool (Thrive Forest School). Generates revenue through facility rentals (weddings, pavilions, Field House, camping, fire pits), signature fundraising events (Butterfly Ball gala, Haunted Hike), and donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve is a 170-acre non-profit public charity that operates as a single unified nature preserve offering interconnected recreational, educational, and event facilities. The core offerings include the Nature Center (natural history museum), Mahan Manor (historic home), Mac & Marla Barr Woodland Garden (two-acre native plant garden), Forest Friends Playground (ADA-accessible playground), and over 9 miles of hiking trails. Additional facilities include pavilions, Field House, camping areas, and the Future Visitor Center. The organization operates Thrive Forest School, Louisville's first nature-based preschool, along with summer camps and after-school programs. The preserve hosts signature events including the annual Butterfly Ball gala and Haunted Hike. Bird Boxes Live provides real-time bird camera feeds. All offerings are coordinated under one organizational umbrella serving visitors year-round.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thrive Forest School: Louisville's first nature-based preschool program operating at the preserve, offering outdoor child-led exploratory learning for children ages 3-5.
• Thrive Nature Camp
• Thrive Afternoon Adventurers
• Thrive Acorns

Products and services

• Facility Rentals Weddings, receptions, and special events at the preserve
• Thrive Forest School Nature-based preschool for children ages 3-5 with monthly tuition; Louisville's first nature-based preschool using a child-led, exploratory learning model conducted entirely outdoors.
• School Field Trips and Educational Programs Field trips for schools covering environmental science, Native Americans in Kentucky, crafts, and activities; scouting programs for badge work and Eagle Scout projects; customized educational experiences. Pricing at $6 per student with special arrangements for Title 1 schools.
• Butterfly Ball Annual gala fundraiser held in the Woodland Garden featuring live music, farm-to-fork dinner, auctions, and butterfly experiences. Tickets $200 per person; raised $350,000 at the 2026 event.
• Haunted Hike Annual family-friendly Halloween event featuring the Fairy Tale Trail with 18 treat stations, face painting, inflatable party zones, harvest hay sculptures, and food trucks. Pre-event tickets $8/person; event-day tickets $10/person.
• Thrive Summer Nature Camp Week-long summer nature camps for children ages 3-11 following the forest school model of child-led, inquiry-based exploratory play. Morning Camp (ages 3-11) at $225/week and Afternoon Camp (ages 6-11) at $285/month or $510 for full summer, with 10% sibling discount.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ visitors served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Beckham Bird ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Bird Box Live streaming cameras at the preserve, providing equipment and expertise for bird watching programming.
• Louisville Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Bird Box Live cameras, helping promote bird conservation and education.
• FBT GibbonsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the annual Butterfly Ball gala, the preserve's primary fundraising event.
• VolarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering partner for the Butterfly Ball, providing farm-to-fork dinner for the annual gala.
• Miracle of KY & TNminorOthersSpecialized playground equipment vendor that designed and installed the Forest Friends Playground, ensuring kid-safe, creative, and handicapped accessible equipment.
• Oldham County TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with local tourism organization to promote the preserve as a regional destination.
• Kentucky Garden TrailcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMac & Marla Barr Woodland Garden is 1 of 12 gardens featured on the Kentucky Garden Trail, a regional garden tourism initiative.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest: A 16,000+ acre arboretum and forest in the Louisville Metro region offering trails, education programs, and nature-based events. Closest geographic and programmatic comparable to Creasey Mahan, with similar mix of conservation, education, and visitor experiences.
• Falls of the Ohio State Park: Indiana/Kentucky border state park with an interpretive center, fossil beds, trails, and education programs. Comparable mission of visitor-driven environmental education in the Kentucky/Ohio Valley region.
• The Parklands of Floyds Fork: A Louisville-area system of four parks offering trails, education, event rentals, and outdoor recreation. Comparable visitor-supported park model serving the same metropolitan market with similar programming.
• Kentucky Audubon Society: Kentucky chapter of the National Audubon Society with bird-focused conservation, education programs, and chapter events. Directly comparable conservation-education mission and existing Creasey Mahan partnership via Bird Boxes Live.
• Louisville Nature Center: A small Louisville-area nature center providing environmental education, trails, and school programming. Comparable scale and mission with strong focus on school field trips and nature education.
• The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky: Kentucky's official state botanical garden offering curated plant collections, education programs, and visitor amenities. Comparable as a visitor-facing nature institution with native plant focus (overlaps with Creasey Mahan's Woodland Garden).

Broad incumbents

• Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum: Historic Cincinnati arboretum and cemetery offering gardens, trails, and educational programming. Comparable nature/cultural-heritage attraction with events and rental revenue.

Emerging players

• Cedarsong Nature School: A pioneering outdoor forest school model with nature-based preschool and teacher training. Comparable as an early pioneer in nature-based early childhood education, sharing Thrive Forest School's pedagogical approach.

Regional players

• Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area: A 170,000-acre federal recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee with trails, education, and events. Comparable large-scale nature-based recreation and education mission serving the Kentucky/greater region.
• Cincinnati Nature Center: A 1,000+ acre nature preserve in southwest Ohio offering nature preschool, school field trips, summer camps, and facility rentals. Highly comparable operating model in the broader Ohio Valley region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@creaseymahannaturepreserve7003
• Instagraminstagram.com/thriveforestschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creasey-mahan-nature-preserve

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve