The Visitor Center

Constructed in 1994, the Visitor Center houses the Nest Gift Shop, a Discovery Room full of nature exhibits, and administrative offices for the Ogden Nature Center.

The building itself is an example of environmentally friendly design.  Planned to fit in with its natural surroundings, the building is situated among gardens and ponds which provide habitat for many insects, birds and small animals.

The building has a unique "living roof" which helps absorb heat and minimize impact on the microclimate and habitat.  The roof helps prevent rainwater runoff to reduce erosion.  In winter the vegetation holds snow in place which serves as insulation, and in the summer the water used to irrigate the roof helps cool the building.

The Visitor Center is made of recycled Douglas Fir and Redwood timbers that were once used in a 12-mile railroad trestle called the Lucin Cutoff that carried trains across the Great Salt Lake from 1904 to the late 1950s.

The kitchen and restrooms feature natural linoleum flooring made of linseed oil, sawdust and jute fibers manufactured in an earth-friendly process. 

The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-4.