Bays Mountain Park has recently stepped up its game with the launch of a new interactive exhibit designed to immerse visitors in the natural beauty and complexity of the Appalachian Highlands ecosystem. Named "Discover Our Appalachian Highlands Home", the exhibit at the Nature Center showcases a detailed lake diorama peppered with the varied wildlife native to the region, from the elusive black bear to the industrious beaver, aiming to connect people to the wilderness through a series of sensory stations and informative panels.
As described on the City of Kingsport, managed park Megan Krager emphasized the importance of recognizing the land's deep ecological connections, pointing out, "Our region is a landscape of resilience, balance, and deep ecological connections—where forests, waterways, and wildlife have evolved together in a dynamic and interdependent system," while noting that the exhibit not only tells this story but is reminiscent of the park's commitment to fostering appreciation and stewardship for the locale. The project, which took a year to conceptualize and carries a price tag of $53,000, began construction in March, bringing to fruition an icon of regional wildlife crafted by Exhibits Designer Cassy Rose with Exhibit Supervisor Allen Davis, through completion last week.
Children and adults can expect a hands-on experience at the exhibit; features include a beaver lodge replica that visitors can crawl into to observe animal models from a novel underwater perspective. Finely textured fur samples, realistic replicas of animal scat, and crafted scents meant to mimic those of mammals such as the beaver and white-tailed deer are among the interactive components designed to engage visitors.
