This cache is located in the Baytown Nature Center, the entrance of which is located at N29 45.293 W95 02.142. There is an entrance fee of $4 for adults 13 and older. Children 5-12 and Seniors are $1. Gates open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset. Sorry, but pets are not allowed in the nature center, even on leash.
The Baytown Nature center is located in the old Brownwood subdivision. Once an upscale neighborhood with great views of the surrounding bays, most of the area has sunk to sea level or below due to subsidence from groundwater pumping. After repeated floodings in the 1970's, the neighborhood was finished off by Hurricane Alicia in 1983. The remaining homeowners were bought out by FEMA and the City of Baytown and the area was eventually converted into a nature center and wetlands. A site on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the Nature Center is home to over 300 species of resident and migratory birds. This site is primarily land-based but there there are some water-based areas around the marshes and along the bays. Some of the old neighborhood streets are still there, though many of them are closed to vehicular traffic. You can still see a few foundations and other evidence of the homes that were once here. Read more about the history of the area here.
This cache is located next to a new piece of artwork that was sponsored by the Friends of the Baytown Nature Center. IT IS NOT ON THE PIECE OF ARTWORK ITSELF, so do not touch it!!
Eventually, the Friends of the BNC will be completely rebuilding the Children's Discovery Area, replacing much of the play equipment that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. If you or your company would like to help with this effort, contact me.
Muggles may be present in the area, especially on weekends, so please be discrete when retrieving and the replacing the cache.
Congratulations to the crazy 8 for being FTF!