The Florence Wild Rivers Interpretive Center & Gift Shop is hosting a Grand Re-Opening event
Saturday, May 4 th from 9am – 3pm. The Center closed in late January due to a broken pipe
flooding the facility and damaging computers, ceiling, flooring and walls. Repairs were
completed thanks to great work by Brent Pataconi with Miller Heating & Cooling, a Trace
Construction crew and Demko Electric.
This event includes a storewide sale, refreshments and a scavenger hunt for kids who will
receive a Smokey the Bear gift bag for participating. Young and old can take their picture with
Smokey the Bear who will drop in for a visit from 11:00 am – 11:30 am.
Staff from the Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition (WRISC) will be on site for an Invasives
Plant Trade-up Day. Landowners remove ornamental invasive species from their landscape and
bring them to the WRISC table outside the Gift Shop to receive monetary vouchers. Each
invasive is worth one $5 voucher (limit of $50/person). The vouchers can be spent at a local
greenhouse or plant sale to purchase a native landscape plant from WRISC's suggested list.
There will also be guided hikes on the ¾ mile Nature Tale Interpretive Trail that tells the story of
“The Return of Trees”. Groups can gather at the pavilion at the edge of the parking lot to walk
the ¾ mile trail with John Roberts, to learn how forests have moved and changed in our area
over millions of years. The 16 new signs on the trail were created by John and graphic designer
Ashley Zoppetti. This project was partially funded by a John E. Force Forestry Fund donation.
The trail is an easy, flat hike on a dirt path with 3 resting benches for those in need.
So mark your calendar for May 4 th to browse for Northwoods gifts, puppets, t-shirts,
sweatshirts, hats, books and other souvenirs. And take time to explore the many exhibits and
wildlife mounts including full body mounts of an albino buck, a mother bear with cubs, a wolf,
coyotes, bald eagle, a variety of fish and more. The friendly staff can direct you to information
about a variety of attractions to see in Florence County and the surrounding area. The center is
open Monday – Friday 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Saturday hours, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, start May 4 th
and will extend into December. The Center is located at the corner of Hwy 70 and US 2 at 5628
Forestry Drive on the SW edge of downtown Florence. For more information visit
www.ExploreFlorenceCounty.com or call the Gift Shop and Visitor Center at 715-528-5377.
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