A family-fun and educational attraction at Put-in-Bay IS NOW OPEN in Shores & Islands Ohio after undergoing a $6.2 million renovation.
The Aquatic Visitors Center is on Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island), and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), has long been a main stop for families visiting the island to learn all about Lake Erie and its ecosystem through hands-on displays. Closed during the 2024 season, the community is excited about its rebirth and guests cannot wait to experience the new exhibits.
The building, on the north side of the island and just west of downtown, is a historic former state fish hatchery used from 1907 to 1988 to raise walleye, sauger, whitefish, cisco, yellow perch, coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead trout in a controlled environment for eventual release into a natural setting. Along with habitat restoration, fish hatcheries can support fish and aquatic wildlife populations. A local example of a hatchery still in operation is the ODNR Castalia State Fish Hatchery which raises rainbow and steelhead trout for stocking lakes and ponds throughout the state of Ohio.
In 1992, the ODNR Division of Wildlife converted the former hatchery building to the Aquatic Visitors Center, an educational facility to bring history, fishing information, and hands-on activities to the public. The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant program at Stone Laboratory, located on adjacent Gibraltar Island, took over operations in a partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife in 2009 and welcomed more than 10,000 guests annually, teaching the next generation about the importance of protecting Lake Erie and allowing kids to fish for free from their dock.
In late 2023, ODNR announced the renovation project, funded through the state’s capital budget. The project includes a complete redesign of the building’s interior, a new roof, new windows, and the installation of air conditioning.
According to the Division of Wildlife, the facility has been updated with interactive displays and exhibits that showcase the unique features of the island area and highlight Lake Erie’s nationally renowned fisheries for species such as walleye, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. The building will now also include an ADA-accessible ramp and entrance, allowing even more people to enjoy the facility. Upon its reopening, ODNR will take over operations of the center.
Lake Erie is one of the nation’s premier fisheries. Plan a visit to learn all about the area’s native aquatic species, ecosystems, current Lake Erie research, and protecting our Great Lake. The Aquatic Visitors Center will continue to offer free admission, along with its free, hands-on fishing experience for children age 15 and under.
The Aquatic Visitors Center is now open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm and welcoming guests through the end of the 2025 season, which is October 1. Learn more here.
Photo courtesy of Shores & Islands Ohio
