Work on Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo nature center continues

Olmsted County continues to make progress on the new Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo nature center. The bones of the building started going up in fall 2021 and construction continues.

The new facility will feature a more spacious entry with easy access to restrooms and drinking water. It will further have an expansive new exhibit hall, showcasing the geology, flora, and fauna of southeastern Minnesota.

Construction on the new nature center kicked off in May 2021 with a groundbreaking celebration and excavation, foundation, and utility work. 

This winter, the construction crew hopes to move to interior structure work before starting to construct and install exhibits. Outside work including landscaping will begin in the spring of 2022. The nature center is slated for a grand opening event in the fall of 2022.

After the new nature center opens, Olmsted County will move to the second phase of the project, which consists of demolition of the original nature center building and completion of an expanded entry plaza.

The Friends of Oxbow (FOX) continue to raise funds for the new nature center. To learn more about how to contribute, visit FriendsofOxbow.org.