Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge visitors center remains closed after hail damage
Nine months after a hailstorm caused significant damage to the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge visitors center near Prairie City, the facility remains closed, leaving visitors and volunteers disappointed by the prolonged shutdown.
Sherry Trunnel, a frequent visitor to the refuge, expressed her frustration. "We live just a few miles away, and I come here almost every day to walk," she said.
The visitors center has been closed for months, and Trunnel is not happy. "I think it's a huge concern," she said.
A major hailstorm damaged the center last summer, leaving holes in the roof that led to water damage inside. The drywall in many places is still missing, and a sign reminding visitors about the damage has been on display for nearly nine months.
Linda Rullan, a volunteer at the visitors center, shared her disappointment. "We've been coming here for years," she said. "It's very disappointing because I used to bring my grandchildren here, and they'd learn all about the prairie."
Efforts to reach a building spokesperson for comment on the progress of rebuilding were unsuccessful. Fans of the bison can still drive through the bison and elk enclosure to view the animals, but they will miss the educational resources inside the visitors center.
"What do we need to do to put this back together to make it operational and to move forward?" Trunnel said. "And the sooner, the better. "
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