Friends of the Preserve The Big Thicket Association The Big Thicket Association
... a Friend of the Big Thicket National Preserve
The Big Thicket Association operates the "Ivory Bill", a covered excursion boat on the Neches River for school field trips, social events and Nature classes. The boat operates on the open river, and is capable of navigating the shallows of cypress-lined backwater channels. Charters available year round.
The Big Thicket Association began over 62 years ago! ...Where is the "Big Thicket"? "the name originally applied to the area between the Old San Antonio Road and the coastal prairie of South Texas from the Sabine River on the east as far west as the Brazos River... As settlement progressed, it became evident that the impenetrable thickets stopped far short of the Brazos, and the Trinity River came to be considered their western border. To East Texas sportsmen of 1900 the Big Thicket meant northwestern Hardin and southeastern Polk counties. It was, and by many continues to be, considered to extend eastward to include all of Tyler, Jasper and Newton counties; most of Sabine, San Augustine and Angelina counties; eastern Trinity and Montgomery and north Liberty counties. "The area is almost coextensive with that which originally supported stands of long-leaf yellow pine..."
The Thicket of Diversity project is dedicated to biological field research in the Big Thicket National Preserve, coordinating activities of field biologists doing species inventory and research projects.
No upcoming events are currently listed.
Aug 19, 2026
Natalia Doiron's sustainability internship helped the Thicket of Diversity consolidate its scientific inventory, strengthen the Field Research Station, and plan for the future.
Read moreMay 8, 2026
BTA is hiring part-time River Boat Captains and Deckhands.
Ivory Bill CrewPurchase surplus 2024-5 Neches River Rally T-Shirts.
Purchase T-ShirtsSupport the Big Thicket Association's conservation, education, research, and public engagement work.
Donate NowBook Neches River Adventures charters through the Ivory Bill tour website.
Register for toursPhotos from the 2021 Neches River Rally
Photos from the 2021 Big Thicket Day
See a short slide show from the 2025 Big Thicket Day Celebration.
Big Thicket Association appreciates our Big Thicket Day and Neches River Rally Sponsors.
Community Support
Community Support
