Large specimens of white oak and tulip poplar, which grow up to 156 feet (48 meters) tall, can be found along one slope within the forest.

[2] Additionally, the forest is home to several species of amphibians, including many salamanders, such as the Chattooga and spotted dusky, northern slimy, red, southern red-backed and two-lined, spotted and Talladega seal salamanders, as well as American bullfrogs, Cope's gray treefrog and green frogs.

[5] In 1964 the Fernbank Trustees developed a 48-year lease which was accepted by the DeKalb County Board of Education, agreeing to manage and maintain the forest in exchange for offering free access to the public.

The transfer of the lease from Dekalb County School System in 2012 led the closing of the forest and subsequent controversy.

In September 2016, after a 4-year restoration period, the forest reopened as part of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.