PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Like many of us, I took advantage of the warm weather last weekend to check out a new place to walk, and Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve was a step back in time.
Hoffler Creek has an interesting story.
It was once part of a large farm that supplied produce up and down the east coast beginning in the mid 1800s.
Most of the land was sold off to create nearby subdivisions, but these last 142 acres were saved to create the beautiful wooded preserve.
There are five trails here spread over three miles, and we chose to follow the Ballard Trail, which is the widest.
With the leaves changing on the tall, hardwood trees it was a really gorgeous walk.
The Ballard Trail is a mile long and circles the lake at the center of the park.
And even Lake Ballard has it's own interesting history.
VDOT once owned the land and used the dirt and sand here when they built Interstate 664.
Eventually, the 55-foot deep borrow pit filled with water, creating this 35-acre lake that's now at the heart of the wildlife preserve.
And while we could hear plenty of birds and a few squirrels, the wildest of the wildlife we saw were the turtles.
Lots and lots of turtles.
If you want to visit Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, there are a few things you should know.
The park is closed on Mondays, and there's no fishing, biking or running allowed.
And no pets, even on a leash.
