Oxbow Eco-Center
The Oxbow Eco-Center is situated on a 225-acre preserve on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and offers a rare glimpse of "the real Florida" - a place where the past and the present come alive in the canopy of the floodplain forest, in the sandy soils of the scrub and pine flatwoods, and in the primordial swamps and wetlands.
A St. Lucie County environmental learning center, the Oxbow Eco-Center is a place where young and old alike can discover the mysterious and hidden life of the forest and river. The preserve at the Oxbow is a living laboratory, offering year-round educational programs on a variety of nature-related subjects. At the Oxbow, you can join a naturalist on a guided walk through quiet gardens planted and nurtured by Mother Nature herself, or journey on your own through the verdant and wild sanctuary.
In a partnership between St. Lucie County and the South Florida Water Management District, the property was purchased using Environmentally Significant Lands and Save Our Rivers funding respectively. The land is managed and preserved to sustain its native wildlife, utilizing boardwalks, trails, bridges, and observation towers that allow visitors to fully experience nature without disrupting it.
Our Mission
The Oxbow Eco-Center is dedicated to educational programs that foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world, an understanding of ecosystems and sustainability, and a sense of stewardship toward Florida and all its inhabitants.
Inside the Center
The Center houses an Exhibit Hall and Discovery Room, which invite you to use all your senses, touching various artifacts of nature, listening to bird songs, and seeing some of Florida's native reptiles.
Our centerpiece exhibit takes you on a journey down the St. Lucie River, one of the most diverse rivers in the state, with more species of fish than any other river in Florida. This life-size exhibit takes you from the river's genesis, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, visiting both the freshwater environment and the estuary along the way. You will experience a unique view of the underwater world, where you'll encounter dozens of fish species, including 20 different replicas of fish, several turtles and crustaceans, and even a life-size manatee with her calf.
You'll also learn about the land and habitat that surround the river as you gaze up through a created water line to view native Florida plants and animals, including nearly a dozen species of birds. It's an experience you won't want to miss!
Building Green / Being Green
The Oxbow teaches by example! The Center was constructed using 'green building technologies,' and is a model for sustainability. Passive light design, solar panels, recycled and recyclable materials were used in the Center's construction. In addition, a cistern system captures rainfall to flush the toilets, and the floors are made from salvaged pine trees lost in the St. Johns River in the early logging days. The building is proof that each of us can lighten our load on the planet and protect our precious natural resources for future generations to come.
CONTACT US
5400 N. E. St. James Drive
Pt. St. Lucie, FL 34983
(772) 785-5833
Fax (772) 785-5834
oxbow@stlucieco.gov