Situated on a picturesque preserve on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, the Oxbow Eco-Center offers a rare glimpse of "the real Florida." Here is a place where geologic history and the present come alive in the canopy of the floodplain forest, the sandy soils of the scrub and pine flatwoods, and the primordial swamps and tranquil wetlands.

The District and St. Lucie County purchased the land, and the county manages the property and nature center. Three miles of boardwalks and trails and observation towers allow you to fully experience nature without disrupting it. The center was constructed using "green building technologies" and is a model for sustainability. Passive light design, solar panels, and recycled and recyclable materials were used in the construction. 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. A special interpretive trail for the visually impaired wraps around the education center. Don't miss the well-stocked gift shop.

For More Information:
Call (772) 785-5833 or visit stlucieco.gov/erd/oxbow for hours, trail conditions, guided hikes and special programs for the public and students.

Directions

• The nature center is located off St. James Drive. From I-95, take Midway Road/C.R. 712 (exit 126) east. Go 3.6 miles to light at S. 25th Street/St. James Drive (Note: Hanging street sign says S. 25th Street, smaller sign says St. James Drive with arrow). Go 1.7 miles and Oxbow Eco-Center will be on left across from Publix shopping center. The center is 1.7 miles north of Airoso Boulevard if accessing St. James from the south. The center is at 5400 N.E. St.James Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983.