The Discovery Center opened on November 7, 2009.  The Center inspires children of all ages to look at the natural world through the eyes of a scientist, with interpretative presentations of the Park’s many plants and animals, as well as sounds.  

There are several hands-on exhibits and all sorts of wonderful skins, skulls, skeletons and more to enjoy.  Activities for visitors to the Center include  animal track and scat identification.  “Explorer’s backpacks” are available to take on hikes behind the Center.

Ranger Jessica Bergner

The Center is overseen by the Park Interpreter, Ranger Jessica Bergner, assisted by dozens of volunteers.   

Hours are 10 am – 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Articles on the opening of the Discovery Center can be found in the Winter 2009 Newsletter, p. 2, and the Spring 2010 Newsletter, p. 2.  As part of our commitment to sustainable ways of living, the Discovery Center added solar panels to the front and back roofs.  An article on the addition of the solar panels appears in the Summer 2018 Newsletter, p. 4.

Guadalupe River State Park’s pollinator garden, called the Habiscape, is an educational site near the Discovery Center introducing the public to native plants of the park.  Markers provide the common name, allowing for plant identification by a curious public.  While any one species of plant might be found in various areas of the Habiscape, it will be identified only once.  Most specimens are dug from a remote location in the park and then transplanted to an appropriate site inside the Habiscape.  Since the intent is to mimic the natural setting of the park, the plants are placed in a random fashion. These transplants can be successfully made late in the spring because they are native plants that very naturally can tolerate the calcareous soil, limited moisture and rising temperatures.   (This overview of the Habiscape is based on Susan Bogle’s article, “The Latest from the Habiscape,” in the  Summer 2017 Friends Newsletter, p. 5.)

 The Habiscape is surrounded by a cedar fence, thanks to the dedication and hard work of Master Naturalists Rob and Debbie Kyrouac.  The fence was constructed in order to keep out armadillos, whose destructive grubbing around for worms, beetles, and moth larvae reached a new level in the fall of 2020. The armadillos had been causing so much damage that the monthly Habiscape volunteer group had to call off their monthly work sessions—anything the volunteers planted got uprooted and tilled by the hungry and persistent armadillos.  After much discussion and some sample prototypes, Rob and Debbie began work on the fence in January, and finished it  in March, 2021.  The top rail was built in hopes of keeping the White-tailed Deer out of the area as well, and a sign welcoming the public to come in will be added.  Rather than detracting from the Habiscape, this fence effectively defines the space and seems to beckon visitors to come inside to enjoy this set-apart world of native plants in their natural habitat.  We are thankful for all of the dedicated and hard-working volunteers  who have made up the entire Habiscape team over the years.   (The above description of the armadillo fencing was provided by rangers Holly Platz and Howell.)

The Friends of Guadalupe River/Honey Creek regularly contribute to the activities of the Center, supporting purchase of such items as binoculars and print-making materials.  The Friends also generously provide funds to assist in the maintenance and improvement of the Habiscape. 

The Discovery Center: