Christy Woods

Muncie, United States

---

Christy Woods in Muncie, Indiana, is a 17-acre arboretum and botanical garden located on the southwest corner of Ball State University's campus.

It was originally part of the land gifted to the State of Indiana by the Ball Brothers in 1918. Early on, Dr. O.B. Christy, a faculty member, worked with students to transplant native wildflowers from across Indiana into the woods, turning the neglected land into a thriving outdoor laboratory for education and research. Today, the woods feature a mature deciduous forest dominated by oak, hickory, ash, walnut, hackberry, and maple trees, along with various native plants and wildflowers.

The site also includes four greenhouses housing collections such as the Wheeler Orchid Collection and serves as a hub for teaching, environmental studies, and community engagement. This natural area is valued for its biodiversity preservation and educational role, continuing the legacy of restoration and conservation started by Dr. Christy nearly a century ago.​