An education center was established in 1949, and in 1969 a group of sod structures were built.

[2][3] In 1997 the West Arapahoe Conservation District sold 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) to the City of Aurora; about 500 additional acres (2 km2) were sold for private development,[4] with revenue from the private sale used to buy the West Bijou Creek site in Strasburg.

[5] The Plains Conservation Center non-profit dissolved and the City of Aurora, already owning the land, assumed management of the site in 2017.

The Aurora site features a replica homestead village that includes two houses, a school house, blacksmith shop and chicken coop, a replica tipi camp, and 1,000 acres of shortgrass prairie.

Special seasonal events and education programs are offered through the City of Aurora's naturalist program and the Denver Botanic Gardens.