J.C. Hormel Nature Center - Austin, Minnesota - Nature Center

J.C. Hormel Nature Center is located on 21st Street NE in Austin, Minnesota and is one quarter of a mile north of Exit 180B on Interstate 90. It is approximately a two hour drive from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport via US-52 N. This 507-acre nature center was established in 1971 and features restored and remnant prairie, hardwood forest, wetlands and meandering streams.

There are seven miles of trails for visitors to walk along, which are open seven days a week from 6am to 10pm. Here there are opportunities to enjoy the wonderful scenery and spot various species of wildlife such as deer, mink, raccoons, salamanders, birds and many other animals and insects. Some of the trails such as the West Prairie Loop and the Tower Loop have benches along the way, while others such as the Prairie Garden Loop have shelters.

Various education programs are offered here including hands-on structured environmental lessons for schools with staff willing to adapt to the needs of the age group and curriculum. Groups of all ages can enjoy other programs such as maple syruping and apple cidering, while the Visitor Center has an exhibit display area with live animals, touch tables, mounted animals, nature games, a play area for toddlers and a nature library. The interpretive building is open from 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays.

Open on a select number of Saturdays throughout the year is the Solafide Observatory, which allows visitors to look through the big telescope at the night sky free of charge. Various other events and programs are provided at the nature center, which provide children with a great education in nature and related topics as well as organizing day trips to other sites. Youngsters can also participate in canoeing along the Zumbro River, while in the winter visitors can tackle the cross country ski trails.

Members of the public can rent the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the park for weddings, parties and other special events during times when it is not being used by the Nature Center. Events are scheduled a year in advance between the hours of 7am and 10pm and no alcohol is allowed anywhere here and smoking is only permitted in the parking lot. The auditorium has 29 tables that can seat six people on each with 160 chairs and also available to use are a phone, TV/VCR-DVD, overhead projector, easels, podium, slide projector and screen as well as kitchen with utensils and cups.

There are numerous places to stay in the area with the Holiday Inn, Days Inn and AmericInn Lodge and Suites of Austin all within about three miles of the Nature Center. Hungry visitors will also find several eateries nearby such as Tender Maid Sandwich Shop, Steve's Pizza and Piggy Blues Bar-B-Que, which are all about two and a half miles away. Visitors with some spare time on their hands may like to visit the Spam Museum, which is also located in Austin.