The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold an open house on May 28 to provide information about the 16-room nature inn to be built at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County.

The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Beech Creek Fire Co. social hall.

"The first nature inn in our state park system will highlight the fabulous birding opportunities in Bald Eagle because of its ridges, valleys and diverse habitat that attract many bird species," DCNR Bureau of State Parks Director John Norbeck said. "The facility will provide a unique, modern inn setting with an outdoor recreation and stewardship focus; make maximum use of green building technologies; and serve as a premier interpretive facility for bird watching."

Every spring, songbirds like warblers, flycatchers and swallows display courtship rituals and sing enchanting melodies while searching for nesting spots in the park. Boaters and beach goers commonly see herons, gulls, geese and osprey around the lake. In the fall, you can find migrating mergansers, cormorants, and buffleheads on the lake.

Green features of the building will include a high efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system; solar collectors to heat water for showers and laundry; rainwater will be collected and used for flushing toilets; low water use plumbing fixtures and high efficiency lighting throughout; Pennsylvania hardwoods from forests certified as using sustainable forestry for structure, finishes and furnishings; and direct access to hiking and biking trails to enable and encourage healthy interaction with the park resources.

Partnerships with conservation and artisan groups are being pursued to maximize the inn's educational and community benefits. In cooperation with Audubon Pennsylvania, guest rooms will feature limited edition prints of John James Audubon's paintings of birds found in Pennsylvania.

The inn will feature artwork by artisans participating in the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisans Workgroup created in the northcentral region of the state.

There will be 11 informational stations at the open house that will include details about the park, the design of the inn, the interpretive plan and recreational opportunities. The public will have the opportunity to interact with staff and provide comments on the new inn.

Groundbreaking for the inn is expected this fall.

5/16/2008