The Prairie Heritage Center provides a dynamic location for presenting educational programs to people of all ages. The site includes classrooms, exhibit areas, demonstration plots, and interpretive trails. Classroom/field experience, research opportunities, historical investigation, and recreational activities are offered to school groups, civic organizations, and the general public.
Your Prairie Heritage Center will instill the desire to preserve and protect our prairie heritage. History can be understood by looking at the changes in our land. Prairie once covered 99% of O'Brien County. In the span of one generation, the land changed from a diverse ecosystem of prairie to a monoculture of cropland. This site will demonstrate prairie restoration and provide information and help in preserving and re-establishing the prairie. An understanding and care for the environment, preserves our quality of life.
Your Prairie Heritage Center encourages economic development with opportunities for recreation and historic exploration. The center's site is part of a larger prairie complex that has been nationally recognized in the "Watchable Wildlife Program" and as an "Important Bird Area". The site is located along the Old O'Brien Glacial Trail Scenic Byway. Public areas exist for hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and canoeing. Canoe access onto the Inkpaduta canoe trail, on the Little Sioux River, is present with the Burnt Bridge Canoe Access nearby. Hunting and fishing are popular in the area. Thirty five archeological sites are located nearby. Tourists and other visitors can use the center for a starting point, or a stop over location for these activities. Increased use of the area increases the revenues of local communities for motels, restaurants, and gas stations as well as opening new opportunities for things such as recreation equipment rentals and guided tour services.
