Visitors of all ages can experience an immersive learning adventure alongside the mythical Bigfoot at the Salt Fork State Park Eco-Discovery Center.
Inside the center, Bigfoot acts as a character guide throughout the building, highlighting fun facts and teaching visitors how, despite having big feet, Bigfoot’s environmental footprint is small. The exhibits engage visitors in an interactive journey through Salt Fork’s forest ecosystem to discover how everything in nature is connected and ends with visitors learning ways they can practice sustainability to protect these valuable connections and natural resources.
Outdoors, visitors can enjoy a patio with seating, a rain garden, meadow plantings, native trees and a trail leading through the habitats and to the lake. The center sits approximately 2.5 miles from the park entrance.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources ConServe Ohio sustainability initiative inspired the need for a nature center that interprets the importance of sustainable practices now and in the future. The building includes sustainable elements indoors, such as high-efficiency HVAC equipment and filtration, LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, a water bottle refilling station, and an entry-floor system to reduce indoor pollution. Visitors can find a green roof and wall outside of the building, permeable pathways, solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, and EV charging stations.
Tucked into the heart of Ohio’s largest state park, the Salt Fork Eco-Discovery Center invites you to explore the outdoors in a whole new way. With fun, hands-on exhibits, live animals, and interactive displays, the center makes it easy for visitors of all ages to connect with nature and learn simple ways to care for our planet. Whether you’re just passing through or spending the weekend at the park, there’s something for everyone to discover!
What You’ll Find at the Eco-Discovery Center:
- Interactive Exhibits: Dive into the fascinating world of Salt Fork’s forests, streams, and wildlife.
- Bigfoot’s Sustainability Secrets: Discover how Salt Fork’s most famous resident, Bigfoot, keeps his environmental footprint small and how you can do the same!
- Sustainable Design: From energy-efficient lighting to a rainwater harvesting system, the center is a model of eco-friendly construction and innovation.
- Outdoor Exploration: Step outside to enjoy the rain garden, green roof, native plant meadow, and a scenic trail leading through diverse habitats.
Hours:
- Monday-Tuesday closed,
- Wednesday-Friday 10am to 5pm;
- 11am to 6pm Sat & Sun.