A new visitor and nature center has opened at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County, creating a place for visitors to learn about the park’s ecosystems before heading out to explore.
The $4.2 million project was funded through public and private sources. According to Florida State Parks, the center is intended to host meetings, events and workshops, while providing interpretive displays and staff interaction for park visitors.
Previously, visitors often parked and boarded trams to reach the beach, Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher told WJHG. The new center offers a broader introduction to the preserve, including its natural resources and the reasons they are protected.
One interactive display focuses on turtles native to the area. In addition to its white-sand beaches and dunes, Topsail Hill Preserve includes coastal dune lakes, a rare ecological feature highlighted by Tim Linafelt of the Florida State Parks Foundation.
Hatcher said the park contributes about $33 million in economic impact to the Walton County area and supports about 470 local jobs. He also said project funds remain for the state to open four more visitor centers aimed at connecting visitors with Florida ecosystems.
