In 1971, founders David and Connie Hellyer donated their vacation property near Eatonville to Metro Parks Tacoma to be set aside as a wildlife preserve.

The area has two "learning centers" featuring hands-on activities for children, as well as services for visitors including a cafeteria and a gift shop.

Bordering the tour pathway, one can see and enjoy a great variety of native plant life, some of which is labeled for easy identification.

Animal species that can be seen on the walking tour include: the western toad, gopher snake, banana slug, rough-skinned newt, bald eagle, golden eagle, snowy owl, barn owl, turkey vulture, bobcat, Canada lynx, North American cougar, red fox, Northwestern wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, fisher, badger, skunk, porcupine, wolverine, raccoon, river otter, and North American beaver.

Its centerpiece is a fake 20-foot (6.1 m) tall hollow tree stump you can climb inside to access the upper level of the playground.

[8] Animal species that can be seen in Cheney Family Discovery Center include rough-skinned newt, western toad and gopher snakes.

In Baker Research Cabin visitors can see wolves and view coyotes and red foxes by remotely controlled cameras.