New Henry Cowell Visitor Center The newly remodeled Visitor Center, in planning and development for over 6 years, promises to be an educational showcase in the heart of the San Lorenzo Valley. Over 600,000 visitors, including more than 40,000 students visit the park annually. The exhibits feature state-of-the-art design concepts which are interactive and entertaining. Visitors young and old can discover more about the park than ever before as the exhibits encourage participation, complete with the special effects of lights and sounds accompanying the touch of a button or the pull of a lever. The four habitats of the park -redwood, riparian (river), sandhill and grassland- are brought to life using mixed media imagery and freeze-dried animals that are found in each habitat. A Raccoon duels with a crawfish while a tiny bat hangs upside-down. Hawks, an owl, skunk and a baby fawn all look surprisingly life-like.   Accompanying each habitat are the sounds of the natural environments which were recorded in the park and play continuously, adding a lively ambiance of songbirds, water, crickets and katydids. The park's rich history, including the first campaign to save the redwoods from clear-cutting by the logging industry more than a century ago weaves into today's modern conservation and preservation movements, and will hopefully inspire visitors the world over.   Hours of operation are 10am - 4pm, Tuesday through Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission to the Visitor Center is free. There is a $6.00 per vehicle parking fee which provides entrance to all state parks that same day. School groups can contact the park for scheduling, available curriculums and fee waiver.

 

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