Our Future...setting a new gold standard for owl aviaries in the U.S.
Check out this 7.5 minute video about the plans for the new Owl Center facility below.
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. We acquired six properties between 2013 - 2024 for our building site, each when the owner was ready to sell.
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. We acquired six properties between 2013 - 2024 for our building site, each when the owner was ready to sell.
Our main building will feature children's owl art from around the world, biological and cultural displays, two 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 large 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.
The crown jewel of the new facility will be 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. This design was pioneered in Germany by Wolfgang Scherzinger in the 1980s and has been adapted by several zoos in Europe since then. Our facility will be the first in the United States to adapt the walk-through aviary concept for owls, and Dr. Scherzinger is consulting with us on the design.
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 in the midst of a 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 large 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.
The crown jewel of the new facility will be 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. This design was pioneered in Germany by Wolfgang Scherzinger in the 1980s and has been adapted by several zoos in Europe since then. Our facility will be the first in the United States to adapt the walk-through aviary concept for owls, and Dr. Scherzinger is consulting with us on the design.
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 in the midst of a 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.
Building exterior: $7.5M
Large program room: $1M
Small program room, interpretive display area and enclosed walkway: $500K each
Walk-through aviaries: $350K each
Two-part display aviaries (1/4 sponsored!): $250K each
Staff office area, conference room, program bird aviaries (1/8 tentatively sponsored!): $100K each
Calming room (sponsored!), IT (sponsored!), Kids' room (sponsored!), Prep room (sponsored!), Evening room: $50K each
Director's office (sponsored!): $25K
Large program room: $1M
Small program room, interpretive display area and enclosed walkway: $500K each
Walk-through aviaries: $350K each
Two-part display aviaries (1/4 sponsored!): $250K each
Staff office area, conference room, program bird aviaries (1/8 tentatively sponsored!): $100K each
Calming room (sponsored!), IT (sponsored!), Kids' room (sponsored!), Prep room (sponsored!), Evening room: $50K each
Director's office (sponsored!): $25K
Click here to email Executive Director Karla Bloem for more information.
