Fairhope’s Restored John Martin Nature Center Opens at Flying Creek Preserve

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The restored John Martin Nature Center is now open to visitors at Fairhope’s Flying Creek Nature Preserve, giving the city a hands-on place to teach students, families and others about local ecology.

The center, which was renovated before reopening, is designed for interactive learning on environmental topics. City officials describe the opening as a milestone in Fairhope’s commitment to outdoor education and conservation in Baldwin County.

A house turned classroom

According to Justin Hammers, the city’s park ranger and urban forest manager, the building was built in the 1970s and has been part of the property for decades. “Over the past two years, we’ve been working to restore it, to turn it into our nature center,” Hammers told WKRG. “And we are finally open to the public.”

The preserve itself opened last year on the site of the former Dyas Triangle property, and the center serves as an education hub for it. Hammers said the aim is to get children out of the classroom: “They can learn about it in school, but it’s different to actually get out here, be underneath the trees, get hands on experiences.” The staff hopes to put students directly into a longleaf pine stand to learn its importance firsthand.

The preserve is already drawing families. Hammers said he had not realized how large the area’s homeschool population was until about 20 children came out with their parents on a Tuesday morning for self-guided scavenger hunts.

Hours and rentals

The nature center is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is not currently available for public rentals and is reserved for city and approved educational events.

For more on the preserve’s trails and history, see our earlier guide to Flying Creek Nature Preserve.