The project involved moving some of the surrounding park's facilities back from the new, higher lake levels.

Also a variety of mammals roam the park, including whitetail and mule deer, coyote, red fox, cottontail rabbit, prairie dogs and weasels.

The center's facilities were originally part of a 5,000-acre (20 km2) ranch for the Atchison family that became the headquarters for the Glenn L. Martin Company in 1955.

The Audubon Society of Greater Denver was invited by Colorado State Parks to develop a nature center in 1998 out of the old 1940s ranch buildings.

In 2004 the Society completed the renovation of the stone garage building into an outdoor learning lab.