Dusty Ricketts FREEPORT — The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center has been open for close to two years now, but attendance has been limited to mostly students and teachers. That will change starting June 3 when the center will open its doors to the general public. The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, named after world-renowned scientist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner E.O. Wilson, will hold a grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 3. “We see this as a good opportunity to further develop ecotourism offerings for visitors to Walton County,” said Commissioner Scott Brannon, chairman of the Walton County Tourist Development Council, in a news release. “This opportunity is in line with goals of the TDC to enhance the visitor experience and offer more beyond the beach activities as well as the County’s long term goal to support and encourage conservation and preservation.” The Biophilia Center was designed to educate students, and now the public, on the importance of biodiversity and to encourage conservation preservation and restoration. The celebration will include tours of the center. Admission for the grand opening is free, but a barbecue lunch will be served for $5. After the grand opening celebration, admission to the center will $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under. From June 1 to Aug. 31, the center will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. From Sept. 1 through May 31, the Biophilia Center will be open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We encourage everyone in the tourism industry to come out and see this great new asset for visitors to the region,” said Dawn Moliterno, executive director of the TDC, in a news release. “This one-of-a-kind facility offers a fun, entertaining and educational experience for families to reconnect with each other as well as the world around us.” The LEED Certified, educational facility has traditionally only served students, teachers and professional audiences. The Center is nestled in the Longleaf Pine ecosystem, which is considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the continental U.S. The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center is located on the 49,000-acre tract of conservation land named Nokuse Plantation near Freeport. nwfdailynews.com
