Access & Directions

From Arena, head south on Ray Hollow Rd about two miles. Rattlesnake Ridge will be on the right. Park alongside the road, where you can scramble up the hill. 

Google Map

Site Steward

Connect with the Chapter to see how you can care for this rare habitat at an upcoming work party.

This site is stewarded by The Prairie Enthusiasts Empire-Sauk Chapter.

Site Steward: Sue Steinmann (EMAIL) 

What Makes Rattlesnake Ridge Special

Along with the area that The Prairie Enthusiasts has protected. Sue Steinmann continues to manage another 100-plus acres. “It’s a pretty significant couple hundred acres there, ” Rich said. “it goes down into the river valley system, with sand prairie and sand barrens from the sands along the Wisconsin River, so there’s a lot of intact habitat.” 

How was Rattlesnake Ridge Protected

In the fall of 1984, Sue Steinmann and Bill Weege purchased 40 acres in Arena, WI with the intent of building a property on the land and being close to Madison. They moved to the property in April, and when they looked outside as spring brought blossoms to the sand barrens and the neighboring ridgetop prairie, they thought, “What the heck did we buy?!”

As the season progressed, Sue and Bill realized they were sitting on a prairie. “We knew what we had, but we had no experience in trying to preserve it or what we needed to do,” Sue said. “We just started reading and talking to friends.”

They met Gary Eldred and other members of The Prairie Enthusiasts, but it was ultimately a chance meeting with Empire-Sauk member Rich Henderson that changed the trajectory of the property. Rich ran into Sue at the Madison farmers’ market in 1990 where Sue was selling flowers. Rich happened to notice that among her offerings was rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium). He asked Sue where she got them from. She explained that the plant grew on her property.

Rich visited the property and more restoration work began on the property. Sue and Bill eventually purchased the ridge top prairie from a neighbor, preventing the remnant prairie there from being plowed and planted. They sold the property to The Prairire Enthusiasts in 2015. In 2017, Sue and Bill helped The Prairie Enthusaists acquire an additional 37 acres from a neighboring family.

How You Can Help Rattlesnake Ridge

Though this property is quite pristine, the work of managing invasive species is endless and we could always use more hands to assist. 

Check out our Events Calendar to see upcoming work parties or contact the site steward to get involved.