The Faerie Houses of Aullwood Through September 1
Aullwood Audubon
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Visiting Aullwood

Find our location, hours, and all you need to know for a great visit.

Locations and Directions

Aullwood consists of two major locations, Aullwood Nature Center and Aullwood Farm, connected by eight miles of walking trails running through our beautiful 200 acre nature sanctuary. You can begin your visit at either site, walk from one to the other, or take a quick five minute car trip between the two. Your payment at either location pays your admission to both.

Aullwood Nature Center is located at 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton, OH 45414. Aullwood Farm is located at 9101 Frederick Pike, Dayton, OH 45414.

Hours and Admission

Both Aullwood Farm at 9101 Frederick Pike and Aullwood Nature Center at 1000 Aullwood Road are open to the public from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday and on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Members-only hour is 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Tuesday through Saturday. Last admission is at 4 PM. Trails close at 4:45 PM and gates are closed and locked at 5 PM. Aullwood's Nature Center, Farm Discovery Center, trails and property are closed on Mondays. Aullwood's trails are only open during business hours. For holiday closings, please visit our Events page. For weather related updates, please see our home page. Aullwood Audubon is open year-around. Admission is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. For this reason, we recommend carefully planning your visit to allow for adequate time to explore our facilities and our "The Troll that Hatched an Egg" exhibit by Thomas Dambo. Aullwood is closed on many school holidays; please check our Events Calendar for the latest schedule changes and other events, or call 937-890-7360 for more information. Please note that Aullwood's trails are closed when Aullwood is closed, and no access is permitted after hours.
   
As of July 2025, Aullwood Audubon requires advance ticket purchase for your visit. Go to https://aullwood.audubon.org/admission to purchase your admission tickets and receive $1.00 off each ticket. Please check in when you arrive to receive your day pass to access the grounds. Members do not need to register prior to visiting, but we ask that you check in at the desk to receive your day pass.

Admission or membership is required to visit Aullwood Audubon's nature center, farm, sanctuary and trails. General admission is free for children 3 and under, $9.00 for children 4 to 12, $13.00 for adults 13 to 64, and $11.00 for seniors age 65 and over, active duty military members and veterans with military ID. Members of Friends of Aullwood (our support group), the National Audubon Society, and ANCA affiliated organizations receive free admission with membership card. Special events can have different fees and arrangements; please see our Upcoming Events calendar, check our Annual Events listing or contact us to check!  

Programs and Special Events

Aullwood has many programs, annual events and special happenings that you may enjoy! Keep up to date with all the latest by visiting our Upcoming Events calendar, or see our Annual & Special Events listing for the major events and unique experiences we host throughout the year.

Trail Map

Please see Aullwood's Trail Map and Brochure for a complete guide to Aullwood's farm, center, sanctuary and walking trails, as well as general information about us and details on our "The Troll that Hatched an Egg" exhibit by internationally famous recyle artist Thomas Dambo.

Severe Weather  

Please be aware that if Aullwood is experiencing severe weather with active storms that produce high winds, thunder and lighting and possible hail, we will close our trails and will not allow guests to purchase tickets during that time.  Instead, we will allow guests to enjoy the center and farm inside only during the storm. If the storm passes and it appears that the weather will improve dramatically, we will move forward with admissions after the storm.

During the summer, the high heat and humidity of Ohio summers can catch Aullwood visitors off guard – be sure stay hydrated throughout your visit! Water refilling stations are available inside both our farm discovery center and nature center. Drinks and refreshments are also available for purchase at both locations. Of course, visitors are encouraged to bring sunblock and bug spray!

Gift Shop

Aullwood's Nature Store and Gift Shop is located in our Nature Center and is open during Aullwood's regular business hours. A visit to our gift store is a great way to take a piece of Aullwood home with you. Aullwood's Nature Store carries hundreds of nature related items, including a variety of bird feeders and houses, children's educational toys and games, nature gifts and crafts. Field guides and birding, ecology and Ohio related books are all topics carried in our book department, along with activity, pop-up and board books for children. All store proceeds help support Aullwood's programs and help us preserve the sanctuary. Also available is a complete array of farm products for sale, including grass fed beef, all natural eggs,  sustainably-raised pork and local dairy products! Remember that a Friends of Aullwood membership entitles you to a 10% discount in Aullwood's Nature Store and much more!

Parking

Ample parking is available at both Aullwood Farm and Aullwood Center, and is free during regular business hours. Several parking spaces are also available for RV and bus parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Look for the RESERVED PARKING: RVS & BUSES ONLY signs along the edges of the farm and center parking lots. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted.

Smoking

Aullwood's Farm and Center as well as trails and property are smoke-free. No smoking, including the use of electronic or e-cigarettes, is permitted in any location at any time.

Dogs

Dogs on leash are permitted at Aullwood Audubon. We do not allow retractable leashes on our property. Aullwood Farm and Aullwood's special events sometimes feature a variety of animals as well as dogs from participating service organizations, so please keep this in mind if your dog doesn't always 'play well with others'.

Accessibility

The accessibility of Aullwood's property and facilities varies. Aullwood's main buildings, the Charity A. Krueger Farm Discovery Center and the Marie S. Aull Education Center, contain accessible restrooms. Both the Nature Center and the Farm Discovery Center have automatic doors. Disabled parking is available at both locations and there are curb cuts from the parking area up to the buildings. The area behind the Farm Discovery Center includes a paved porch and short paved path to a roughly graveled drive that leads to the barns where many of Aullwood's farm animals reside. One entrance to the barn is level with the ground, the other has a step that needs to be navigated; the lower barn is one floor and level. Entrances to the Sheep Barn and Aviary are level. 

Aullwood’s paved Cardinal Trail next to the Nature Center at 1000 Aullwood Road is reasonably accessible. This trail is 4/10 of a mile in length and circular, and consists of asphalt and pavers. There are benches located all along the trail for those who might enjoy observing nature or taking a rest. There is a steep grade to access part of this trail and a long grade uphill/downhill, that may be difficult for some wheelchair and walker users. This is primarily a nature trail and currently hosts our 'The Faerie Houses of Aullwood' exhibit. However, "The Troll That Hatched an Egg", our Thomas Dambo exhibition, cannot be viewed from this trail.

The trolls that make up Aullwood's "The Troll that Hatched an Egg" Thomas Dambo exhibition are not accessible. The trolls are reached via hiking trials that run throughout Aullwood's nature sanctuary and farm. These pre-existing hiking trails are primarily dirt with some wood chip and gravel areas. The trails are largely primitive and unimproved; some are steep, contain exposed roots and can be muddy. A significant walk is required to see the trolls, which varies from 7 to 20 minutes based on the troll; they cannot be viewed directly from a vehicle or accessed from the adjacent Aullwood Garden MetroPark or Englewood MetroPark. You can view Aullwood's trail map for details on where the trolls are located on our property and more about our trail system at https://aullwood.audubon.org/trailmap

If you need more details on accessibility, please contct us as AskUs@Aullwood.org and we will connect you with an appropriate member of our staff. 

Commercial Photography, Videography and Multimedia Policy

To use any part of the Aullwood Audubon property for the purposes of commercial photography, videography or multimedia recording, you must obtain a commercial permit by submitting a request form and speaking with the Center Director or designated staff member at least two weeks in advance. Commercial photography, videography and multimedia includes any material captured at Aullwood Audubon which you are directly paid for, create with the intent to sell, or are compensated for in other ways. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • fashion shoots
  • advertising photos or videos
  • stock photographs
  • films
  • portrait photography (including wedding, engagement, family, prom, graduation, and other portraiture)

FEES
Commercial photography and videography fee guidelines are generally based upon the total number of people on location. If you will need to use the nature center facilities for any purposes, an additional room rental fee will be applied.  Small groups (1-10 people) are $50 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $250, medium groups (11-35 people) are $100 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $500, and large groups (35+ people) are $150 per hour with a maximum daily rate of $750. Aullwood Audubon will require higher fees for large commercial projects that have bigger impacts on sanctuary operations, such as films, commercials and other high-intensity uses. Aullwood Audubon may occasionally reduce the fees for photography sessions that offer unique community benefits.

PERMIT REQUEST FORM 
After contacting Aullwood to confirm the availability of your proposed date(s), visit https://aullwood.audubon.org/PermitRequest to download and complete an Aullwood Audubon Commercial Photography, Videography and Multimedia Permit Request. Submit the completed Permit Request and relevant payment to Aullwood Audubon at least 2 weeks prior to the proposed date.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY GUIDELINES
To ensure our sanctuary stays protected for people, wildlife, and farm animals, we ask all photographers and videographers to follow these rules:

  • Interfering with the visiting experience of other guests at the sanctuary is strictly prohibited.
  • Moving or removing plants or structures—such as benches, containers, displays, fences, etc.—is strictly prohibited.
  • Entering any fenced in enclosure or pasture is strictly prohibited.  Feeding of any animals, farm or otherwise, is strictly prohibited.
  • No photographer, videographer, assistant or subject may step in flower beds, walls, benches, or places other than on designated paths and open areas. Climbing or mounting equipment in trees or on buildings is not permitted.
  • Balloons, kites, and flying lanterns are prohibited. Photographers and videographers should contact the Center Director or his or her designee for approval of any props proposed to be used. 
  • All subjects must be fully clothed. Swimsuit or lingerie photo shoots are not permitted.
  • All cords or wires must be placed and guarded in such a way that they do not alter pathways and/or put visitors at risk.
  • Littering is prohibited. Photographers and other visitors should carry out anything that they carry in.
  • Launching, operating, or retrieving drones or other remote-controlled aerial vehicles is prohibited without prior approval.
  • Photographers and videographers will be held liable for their actions and for those of clients, crewmembers, and subjects should they damage sanctuary facilities or property.

Contact Us

Contact us by calling 937-890-7360 or emailing AskUs@aullwood.org. You can also find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads and BlueSky! Our mailing address is:

Aullwood Audubon
1000 Aullwood Road
Dayton OH 45414-1129

Learn and Engage with Aullwood