Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a 103-acre facility dedicated to conservation, education, recreation and tourism. It houses an award-winning, 9500-square-foot building filled with live animal exhibits; photographic presentations of the site's flora and fauna; natural artifact and mineral displays; and a sizeable, vintage waterfowl decoy carving collection.  Ecology and art exhibits are featured periodically.

Over a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks link varied habitats such as the cypress-tupelo swamp, beech-magnolia and hardwood forests. Wildlife is plentiful at Bluebonnet Swamp, including hundreds of bird species utilizing the site throughout the year. Birders can view seasonal species during peak migrations, as well as year-round residents. While snakes and turtles are commonly seen from the trails, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, armadillos, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, deer and otter are also known to inhabit the site.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Nature programs and environmental education are conducted throughout the year including educational group tours, live animal encounters, holiday and summer day camps, toddler activities, birding walks, field trips and special events.

Exhibit Building

The award-winning exhibit building is an impressive structure combining the natural tones of wood and the illuminating effects of light to create an open-air feeling. Young visitors will surely enjoy the live animal displays, as well as the touch tables that are covered with items like snakeskin, feathers, pelts, skulls and other natural artifacts. More mature audiences might enjoy viewing the carving displays and picking up some free educational materials at the information table. Guests can find a variety of nature-related gifts and souvenirs in The Bee Hive, while also observing a real, working beehive and hunting for the marked queen.

Small business groups (up to 40 people) using the center's conference room will find the beautiful surroundings of this site quite inspiring during breaks. Larger groups (up to 150 people) can reserve the entire building for evening events as well.

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Mission Statement

Through ecotourism and nature-based education, BSNC provides opportunities for discovery and positive outdoor experiences, which foster an awareness and appreciation of natural resources.  BSNC promotes the conservation of natural areas, ecological research, and hands-on community involvement to cultivate environmental stewardship.