white river national wildlife refuge visitors center

Granted, it was the wrong time of year so we didn't see much wildlife BUT the trees - various oak species and bald cypress - were absolutely amazing! The wetlands were rich in birds and we DID just catch a glimpse of white tailed deer. We took the path behind the visitors center and the boardwalk was lovely. Driving TO the refuge in early December gave us the opportunity to see thousands of Snow Geese migrating and that was worth it right there!

The interactive exhibits were what impressed me the most at the White River NWF Visitor's Center. Even though some of them weren't working :( Nevertheless, there were some really well designed, interactive exhibits. My favorite was probably the "after dark" video room. It's not interactive, but it's still great. You walk into the small room and a video begins playing that illustrates the sights and sounds of the various creatures that come out after dark on the refuge. Very nice. There's also a video on flooding processes, though you get this same info on their website. Still the video was well done.There's an exhibit where you pick out which creatures are carnivoires, herbivores, producers etc. and which are scavengers and decomposers.There's another exhibit where you match the name of an animal to it's picture. Many of these are more geared for kids. But, hey I still had fun. And, like I said, their interactive nature is what I was so impressed with. That's really kind of unusual. There are also less interactive exhibits, like the videos, and the interpretive displays.In any case, if you're in the neighborhood, and you like nature, I recommend you check this out. And of course, that's just the Visitor's Center. Then there's the refuge itself. They have the largest tree in the state of Arkansas. And, it's a stopover for many migratory birds, as well as being home to a number of more permanent bird residents. Actually, the same goes for the Mississippi River Valley in general. But, White River Refuge provides an especially unique habitat.I saw tufted titmouse, carolina chickadee, carolina wren, red-bellied woodpecker, and northern cardinal. And, if you make it out to the Champion Cypress tree on Lower White Lake, look at the tree and turn left. If you walk a short distance you'll see a really nice display of cypress knees: some jutting straight up and others forming arches.Really glad I came here. I'll be back.

This is an excellent modern facility with an incredible collection of multimedia exhibits. It’s somewhat surprising to find it here “in the middle of nowhere.” I have visited several times, and find something different to focus on in the exhibits each time I'm here. On this visit, I paid closer attention to the timeline of the history of the geographical area that the refuge covers than I have before. Most of the exhibits focus on the refuge’s natural history. It does a thorough job of covering just about anything you would want to know about the ecosystems here. There are lots of hands-on activities that children in particular would find interesting, though they’re fun for adults, too. When you first enter, there is a huge, floor-to-ceiling model of a cypress tree in the lobby with all of the kinds of animals you find living in its branches and near its roots under water. It’s really impressive. Take some time to look at it. The more you look, the more you see. Look at it again before you leave, after you’ve seen the exhibits, and you might be able to identify some species you weren’t able to identify before. I’m blown away by it every time I see it.In the middle of the exhibit area, there are two mini-theaters. Their presentations start when you enter them. One is about floods. It starts off with footage of the Flood of 1927, which affected several states in the lower Mississippi River delta, including Arkansas. Much of the movie talks about the seasonal flooding of the White River, and how important it is in replenishing the ecosystem here. Since I had just been reading about the Flood of 1927 and I was visiting during the river’s natural flooding cycle, this was particularly meaningful for me this time. The other is about nocturnal creatures. Be sure not to miss this one. I have to sit through the presentation every time I visit, including this time. You start off sitting in the dark, with stars shining above you. Then you start to hear the sounds of nocturnal animals. As the presentation progresses, the animals making those noises are identified. It’s almost like sitting outside on a summer evening.While you are here, you can pick up lots of information to take with you, including lists of the species that can be found here. They have a giant map of the refuge on the wall, which helps with getting your bearings if you plan on exploring the Refuge’s roads or waterways. The staff is very helpful and has always been able to answer our questions.Whether or not you plan on seeing any more of the wildlife refuge, it’s worth the stop here just for the exhibits.