The Forest Discovery Center is one of southern Indiana’s neatest attractions. It is a center attached to a rough mill that informs visitors about woodlands and lets them observe the process at the Koetter Woodworking rough mill. It is a beautiful and informative way for Indiana or Louisville tourists to spend a day.
The Forest center strives to teach people how valuable one tree can be and to encourage reforestation. They further act on their environmental values by printing all of their promotional materials on recycled paper and by planting 50,000 trees annually.
The center includes a 1,000 square foot diorama called the Indoor Forest with different species of trees, a stream and nature based music that Indiana or Louisville tourists can enjoy. Along the way there are signs posted that inform visitors on what type of fruit the trees produce, how tall they will get, what their leaves look like and how trees are endangered. Visitors will also learn how they can help with reforestation, what we use the trees for, and how the forest regenerates itself.
At the center there is also a 1.000 foot mural that is made from small wood inlays with a technique called marquetry. Marquetry is a process of covering structures with veneer to make interesting or appealing designs. In this case, the veneer used was wood, but sometimes it is turtle shell, ivory, bone, pewter, mother of pearl, brass, or other metals.
While at the center, visitors can actually walk inside a giant oak tree and sign the center’s tree to show support for their reforestation efforts. The center also features video presentations that star Oakie Akorn and are shown on a huge screen in a theater with 204 seats, which also has wheelchair seating and close captioning available.
In addition to being informed about woodlands, visitors can also watch artists as they work and explain some of their woodworking techniques. Some of their work can be bought in the gift shop, which offers art work, wood crafts, souvenirs, and apparel.
Visitors can cross from the center into the mill by walking through a glass encased sky walk to observe logs turn into trim and moulding. The mill allows Indiana tourists to learn how wood from trees is transformed and what it is used for. Visitors will also learn that the mill is 6 acres under one roof and that it practices energy conservation as the energy for drying 15,000,000 board feet annually and for heating the majority of the mill is produced by burning any waste wood.
The Forest Discovery Center also has a 4,000 square foot conference area for meetings, parties, and conferences. This area has seating for up to 250 people with padded banquet chairs, tables, a private entrance, and a beautiful stage for presentations.
The Forest Discovery Center is located at 533 Louis Smith Road in Starlight, Indiana (47106). Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and they are closed on Sundays. The production facility hours vary, but they are not open on weekends. More information can be obtained at www.forestcenter.com or by calling 812-923-1590.
