The Kile Oak in the Irvington neighborhood has been preserved and protected as a natural landmark. The policy of the Irvington Historical Society and the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation is to maintain Kile Oak and the many wildflowers, perennials, and trees on the property. It is open and welcomes adults and supervised children's groups to enjoy the beauty of the tree and the property.
This magnificent Burr Oak, Quercus Macrocarpa, is named after Oliver W. Kile, the first person to build his family home on the lot in 1901. His daughter, Mae, fought fiercely to protect it. allowing its limbs to grow into her Victorian house rather than cut them off. Her home has since been demolished, but the tree still stands on an empty lot lovingly maintained by volunteers.
Because of its impressive dimensions - height, 87 feet; diameter, five feet; circumference, 190 inches; crown diameter, 122 feet - the Kile Oak has been recognized as the largest Bur Oak within any municipal boundary in Indiana and the 6th largest in the State. It is estimated to be between three and four hundred years old.
To get credit for this virtual, take a photo with the Kile Oak and add it to your log. The photo can be of you, your hand, your gpsr, a trackable, a sign with your name, or any other creative method to prove you were at the location after the cache published date.
O lovely tree, clothed in your winter gown of shining silver,
You stand alone, a silhouette against the clear, cold sky,
With the pale light of sunset streaming through your branches,
You face the high winds, the low winds, as they go rushing by.
O, beautiful tree, you gave your autumn gown of burnished gold and amber
To nurture bud and blossom beneath the drifting snow,
So when the warm winds, the soft winds come swinging into springtime
I may walk again where purple violets grow.
- written by Mae Kile
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.