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Williston Today
By the People, for the People
Spring Lake Nature Center Unveils New Exhibits Monthly
The temporary exhibits aim to educate visitors on North Dakota's wildlife and ecosystem.
Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:00am
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The Spring Lake Nature Center in Williston, North Dakota is featuring a series of new temporary exhibits each month, starting with a display on prehistoric life in the state. The center's founder, Lee Lusht, has been working to bring interactive nature education to the community, partnering with local museums, science centers, and geology companies to create immersive experiences. The Nature Center is currently housed in a keelboat building in Spring Lake Park, but the long-term goal is to establish a permanent facility.
Why it matters
The Spring Lake Nature Center aims to inspire curiosity and discovery about North Dakota's natural world, which is often overlooked. By rotating new exhibits monthly, the center can highlight the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and geological features found across the state, educating both locals and visitors.
The details
The Nature Center's current prehistoric life exhibit features real fossils that visitors can examine, as well as activities like a dinosaur puzzle dig. In April, the exhibit will shift to focus on indigenous species, agriculture, and pollinators. Lusht and her team work closely with local organizations to ensure the exhibits are unique, immersive, and engaging for all ages.
- The Spring Lake Nature Center was first incorporated in the spring of 2023.
- The center held its Roots and Wings festival in 2025, featuring 13 exhibitors and over 1,000 visitors.
- The current prehistoric life exhibit will be on display through the end of March 2026.
- The next exhibit, focusing on indigenous species, agriculture, and pollinators, will open in April 2026.
- The Nature Center will have temporary use of the keelboat building in Spring Lake Park until the end of April 2026, and then again starting in late July 2026.
The players
Lee Lusht
The founder and president of the Spring Lake Nature Center, who has been spearheading the operation since its incorporation in 2023.
Williston Parks and Recreation
The department that has been working with the Nature Center to provide the temporary keelboat building space in Spring Lake Park.
What they’re saying
“Inspire curiosity and discovery about the Natural World of North Dakota”
— Lee Lusht, Founder and President, Spring Lake Nature Center
What’s next
The Nature Center plans to return to the keelboat building in Spring Lake Park at the end of July 2026 after its current temporary exhibit ends in late April.
The takeaway
The Spring Lake Nature Center's rotating monthly exhibits demonstrate a commitment to highlighting North Dakota's diverse natural wonders and educating the community in an engaging, interactive way. As the center works towards establishing a permanent facility, its temporary presence in the keelboat building is sparking curiosity and appreciation for the state's underappreciated natural assets.
