“Amazing.” “Innovative.” “Awesome.” Those are some of the words used by visitors to describe the Children’s Museum and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature and Science Center at Port Wonder in Lake Charles during a sneak peek media tour Saturday morning with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) executives and city officials.
Construction of the 23,000-square-foot facility along the Lake Charles waterfront beside I-10 on North Lakeshore Drive is ongoing, with an anticipated opening date this summer. Port Wonder will incorporate two distinct elements – the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana, which is relocating to Port Wonder, and a new 5,500-square-foot Nature and Science Center to be operated by LDWF.
"With the completion of Port Wonder rapidly approaching, excitement is building in the community for the day the doors open on this state-of-the-art attraction,” said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. “We are proud of what we are creating on our Lakefront and are thankful for our partnership with LDWF. This is a transformative project that will offer residents and visitors a world-class children's museum and science and nature center."
The Nature and Science Center will feature approximately 15,000 gallons of aquaria including aquatic species from the freshwater bayous of Louisiana to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors will be able to interact with different hands-on exhibits to learn more about LDWF’s fisheries programs and the natural resources LDWF is tasked to manage and conserve.
LDWF officials touring the facility Saturday include Secretary Madison D. Sheahan and Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Ryan Montegut. Tours were led by LDWF Biologist Program Manager Danica Williams and LDWF Biologist Manager Heather David.
“Thank you to Mayor Nic Hunter, the Children’s Museum of Lake Charles, and to our Biologists Heather and Danica, for a great tour of the Port Wonder facility,” Sheahan said. “We are proud to partner with the City of Lake Charles in bringing this fun and educational experience to Louisiana and especially to the children, the future hunters and fishers of our state. We look forward to its opening and the ways in which this facility will show visitors all that our Sportsman’s Paradise has to offer.”
The LDWF Nature and Science Center at Port Wonder is funded in part through the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (TIG), with dollars provided to help compensate the public for lost recreational use opportunities due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and associated response activities.
The original plan called for creation of a science center and education complex to be built on LDWF land in Lake Charles. The project expanded to include relocating the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana to create a single site offering enhanced opportunities for the public to play and learn in one centralized location placed near other recreational amenities, such as the Lake Charles waterfront and city parks.
In addition to the indoor attractions, Port Wonder will feature numerous outdoor entertainment options including walking trails, an ADA-compliant fishing pier and seating, a variety of native plants, and covered areas for outdoor events and activities.
For LDWF Nature and Science Center exhibit information contact Heather David at hdavid@wlf.la.gov. For information about the Children’s museum, contact Executive Director Allyson Montgomery at allyson@swlakids.org.