We currently operate out of an historic storefront in "downtown" Houston, Minnesota. It's a great way to get started, but we need much more as we continue to grow. Our goal is to build our own facility that meets all of our needs on the north side of Houston, adjacent to and in Trailhead Park.
Our main building site encompasses five properties, and thankfully all owners were willing to sell in their own time. We purchased the fifth and final property in November 2020. The site of our walk-through aviaries is owned by the City of Houston, and we are in the process of finishing agreements with the City to purchase that property.
Our main building site encompasses five properties, and thankfully all owners were willing to sell in their own time. We purchased the fifth and final property in November 2020. The site of our walk-through aviaries is owned by the City of Houston, and we are in the process of finishing agreements with the City to purchase that property.
Our main building will house a rotating exhibition of children's owl art from around the world, biological and cultural displays, program rooms, a prep room for food and specimens, and of course a well-stocked gift shop.
The ambassador owls will be able to live on-site (they all currently live off-site and commute to work each day). They will live in aviaries off view from the public, but immediately adjacent to the program rooms, with natural vegetation to attract critters for them to watch. Staff will bring them into the program rooms as needed for presentations, and they will be used for off-site programs.
Four species of owls that are not adapted to our local climate will live free in two-part aviaries attached to the main building. These aviaries will have a portion exposed to the weather and a second portion that is climate controlled so the owls can choose if they want ambient or controlled temperatures, depending on their own personal preferences. The public will be able to view them when they are in either portion of their aviaries.
Six walk-through aviaries in the park will allow visitors to view owls adapted to our local climate in naturally vegetated enclosures with nothing between them and the owls. These spaces are designed using owls' natural instincts so the owls will choose to stay in the main portion of their aviaries rather than use physical barriers to separate them from visitors. Visitors will literally walk through the side of the enclosures.
We plan to offer special after-dark programs so people can experience the owls when they wake up and start hooting, tooting and trilling.
In 2022 the Board of Directors hired Wieser Brothers General Contractors to do this project as design-build. With our input, Wieser Brothers engaged DSGW to do the architectural design. The concept planning is now complete and we are working with Mark Davy & Associates launching our capital campaign. The total project cost is estimated to be $17.3 million.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for more information, including naming opportunities.
The ambassador owls will be able to live on-site (they all currently live off-site and commute to work each day). They will live in aviaries off view from the public, but immediately adjacent to the program rooms, with natural vegetation to attract critters for them to watch. Staff will bring them into the program rooms as needed for presentations, and they will be used for off-site programs.
Four species of owls that are not adapted to our local climate will live free in two-part aviaries attached to the main building. These aviaries will have a portion exposed to the weather and a second portion that is climate controlled so the owls can choose if they want ambient or controlled temperatures, depending on their own personal preferences. The public will be able to view them when they are in either portion of their aviaries.
Six walk-through aviaries in the park will allow visitors to view owls adapted to our local climate in naturally vegetated enclosures with nothing between them and the owls. These spaces are designed using owls' natural instincts so the owls will choose to stay in the main portion of their aviaries rather than use physical barriers to separate them from visitors. Visitors will literally walk through the side of the enclosures.
We plan to offer special after-dark programs so people can experience the owls when they wake up and start hooting, tooting and trilling.
In 2022 the Board of Directors hired Wieser Brothers General Contractors to do this project as design-build. With our input, Wieser Brothers engaged DSGW to do the architectural design. The concept planning is now complete and we are working with Mark Davy & Associates launching our capital campaign. The total project cost is estimated to be $17.3 million.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for more information, including naming opportunities.
Download more detailed information by clicking on the images below.
Naming opportunities are available! See the amounts in red below.
Click here to email Executive Director Karla Bloem for more information.
