Port Wonder Readies Grand Opening: Lake Charles’ New Family Attraction

The wait is almost over in Southwest Louisiana! The new Port Wonder- Children's Museum and Nature and Science Center 1011 Lakeshore Dr. on the Lakefront, is gearing up for the opening day (check back often for the actual date.) It can't get here soon enough. Since construction started I've been watching from across the street (at work) and my co-workers have been eager to see inside.

Its unique design is already an eye-catcher, but according to Visit Lake Charles, the opening day promises to be a defining moment for our community. This 25,000-square-foot facility will feature the highly anticipated Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana, closed since Hurricane Laura in 2020. The future is bright, however, and the museum's new location will offer even more fun discovery activities for kids in SWLA. Get your family of kids Children's Museum Membership today, with unlimited visits, exclusive members-only hours, access to special events, and much more.

It will also include a new space for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) offering exciting educational and interactive exhibits. "We’re thrilled to unveil Port Wonder, which will feature four distinct galleries: Nature, Health, Tech, and City," said Allyson Montgomery, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana. "Each gallery combines beloved classics with exciting new installations, designed to inspire wonder and curiosity in children of all ages."

PORT WONDER IS SET TO OPEN IN FEBRUARY 2025

The Nature Gallery is described as a "honey, I shrunk the kid's kind of experience." Kids will immerse visitors in oversized natural features, including a banana spider weaving web exhibit, a pollinator garden, and an interactive alligator’s nest.

The Sportsman’s Paradise - Section will teach children about local industries and recreational activities like fishing and crabbing. Additionally, a new water cycle water table is expected to be a highlight.

The Health Gallery - Will focus on the senses and body systems through tactile, interactive exhibits such as the Mr. Bones cycling exhibit and a digestive maze.

The Tech Gallery - Will include a Tinker Lab with rotating STEM activities and exhibits on simple machines, light, air, engineering, chemistry, and physics, many of which connect to local industry processes.

The City Gallery - Will feature a miniature city with themed areas such as Kids Port, the Calcasieu Pass Lighthouse Climber, and Cowboy’s Café.

The Sneak Peak Tour At Port Wonder Ignites Grand Opening Excitement

LDWF Nature and Science Center - will highlight Louisiana’s biodiversity through various aquarium exhibits, including the 1,500-gallon Bayou Tank, 300-gallon Oyster Reef Tank, 6,900-gallon Cameron Jetty Tank, 2,200-gallon Rig Reef Tank, and a 2,900-gallon Touch Tank. Each aquarium will represent a different habitat, showcasing native fish species.

Visitors can also explore interactive displays on Louisiana’s habitats and marine conservation efforts, with features on fish hatcheries, coastal restoration, the Rigs to Reefs Program, fisheries management, and even a fishing game.

"We’re particularly excited about the educational opportunities the Nature and Science Center will provide," said Heather David, Biologist Manager at LDWF. "From the Barrier Island interactive to our fishing pier, these exhibits will educate visitors about Louisiana’s natural treasures and conservation efforts."

Port Wonder represents the culmination of a public-private collaboration that began in 2018. For updates and additional information about Port Wonder, visit www.visitlakecharles.org.