Crex Meadows Wildlife Education

and Visitor Center

We NOW HAVE A

GROUP FORUM! 

Click to join

Local Weather Forecast

When planning a trip to Crex, be sure to include a stop at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Education Center first!  From April through October, the Crex Meadows Wildlife Education and Visitor Center is open seven days a week, weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and on weekends from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  November through March the center is open only on weekdays when the Wisconsin DNR staff is here.   Pamphlets are always available from the rack outside the Center.

The center opened to the public on April 13th, 2002 and was funded by monies raised by the Friends of Crex.

The Visitor Center is located at the junction of County Rd "D" and  County Road "F".  At the front of the building you will find a prairie garden with many of the prairie grasses and wildflowers found in the wildlife area.  Many of the plants are labeled to help you with identification.  This area was created and is maintained by Friends of Crex volunteers.  Also notice the brick walk with bricks purchased by donors to honor friends and family.  Proceeds from the sale of these bricks were originally used to help build the Visitor Center and new funds are now put towards the Endowment Fund which was set up in 2003 as a source of perpetual funding for interpretive programs at the Center.

The grounds at the Wildlife Education and Visitor Center include a paved handicapped accessible walkway through prairie plantings.  Check out the bird houses at the beginning of the walkway for nesting bluebirds and flickers.  Behind the Center is a boardwalk and nature trail.  The boardwalk was built in 2004 and goes over a pond that was constructed by the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited and is used for educational purposes.

Inside the Center you will find exhibits about the history of Crex Meadows and Fish Lake Wildlife Areas, a diorama highlighting the different habitats found at Crex, a hunting shack with artifacts donated by our members, and artwork by local artists.  Pamphlets, maps and other brochures are available both inside and out to help you plan and enjoy your visit better.  You may also speak to the volunteers and staff about what's going on around Crex and the other areas that are supported by Crex.  Souvenirs are available at the gift shop, The Bog Shoe.  Items including: caps, shirts, mugs, books and postcards can be purchased here.  The Friends of Crex sell these items to help fund the wildlife interpretive program. 

Other facilities include offices for Friends of Crex and DNR staff, a 52-seat auditorium equipped with Audio Visual booth, a small stage and a podium, a full kitchen and a large classroom/meeting hall.  These facilities are used by the Friends of Crex and the DNR and are also available for groups and organizations to use for meetings and events.  Some events held at the center included our annual Endowment Fund Benefit Dinner, the Thousand Dollar Club Champagne Brunch, our annual Spring Birding Festival, a Summer Wildlife Camp in June for kids, a Dragonfly Festival in July 2006, the annual Friends of Crex Volunteer Appreciation Brunch and Annual Meeting in September, and the annual Fall Wildlife Festival in October. Please contact the Crex staff at (715) 463-2739 for more information on how to reserve space for your next event. 

Crex Meadows staff and volunteers are available to guide tours of the Wildlife Area.  Our wildlife interpretive biologist and our interpretive naturalist also work with the local schools and girl scout groups.  If you have a wildlife club, birding club, school group or other group interested in coming to Crex Meadows for a guided tour, please contact us at (715) 463-2739 for more information. 

The Center is staffed by volunteers on weekends from April through October.  Weekend hours are 10am to 4pm.  During the week the Center is generally open from 8am to 4:30 pm.  Pamphlets are always available from the rack outside the Center.

BACK TO TOP

FRIENDS OF CREX, INC.   102 EAST CREX AVENUE, GRANTSBURG WISCONSIN 54840   (715) 463-2739         www.crexmeadows.org