FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2025

Cane River National Heritage Area Launches Next Phase of Discovery Center Project with New Website and Fundraising Campaign

NATCHITOCHES, LA – Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) is proud to announce the next stage in the development of the Cane River Discovery Center, a dynamic new children’s museum and visitor center designed to inspire curiosity, exploration, and a deep connection to the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Following the successful completion of the initial planning and concept development phase, CRNHA is now launching its fundraising campaign to bring the Discovery Center to life. As part of this effort, CRNHA has unveiled a new website, www.caneriverdiscovery.org, where visitors can explore the center's vision, view early design concepts, and learn how to support the project.

Located within the Natchitoches Outdoor Recreation Corridor, the Cane River Discovery Center will serve as both an interactive learning space for children and a gateway for visitors to explore the heritage, landscape, and outdoor offerings of the Cane River region. The facility is thoughtfully designed to serve residents, school groups, and tourists alike, with a focus on hands-on exhibits and interpretive storytelling.

The Discovery Center’s planning phase was made possible through support from the National Park Service. The project team includes Propel Consulting, leading project management and interpretive planning; Tipton Associates, a Baton Rouge-based architecture and design firm; Ashe Broussard Weinzettle Architects, a Louisiana architecture firm with experience across public and institutional projects; Carbo Landscape Architecture, specializing in immersive and context-sensitive outdoor spaces; and Taylor Studios, a nationally recognized firm for exhibit design and fabrication. Together, this team developed a phased master plan that will guide the Discovery Center’s development, beginning with exhibit design and fundraising and continuing through construction, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2027.

The new center will feature the adaptive reuse of CRNHA’s existing headquarters at 4115 University Parkway. Originally a bank building, the property was purchased in 2021 and will be transformed into a vibrant space for interpretation, education, and visitor services. Adaptive reuse is core to CRNHA’s mission and reflects a long tradition on Cane River of reusing and repurposing what we have to build a stronger, more sustainable region.

“We see the Cane River Discovery Center as a meaningful addition to the region, one that supports both heritage tourism and hands-on learning,” said Rebecca Blankenbaker, Executive Director of CRNHA. “This project has been thoughtfully developed over several years, and with the planning phase complete, we’re ready to move into implementation alongside our partners and community. The Discovery Center will honor the region’s cultural legacy while encouraging stewardship of the landscapes and waterways that define Cane River country. It’s about helping the next generation understand how our land has shaped our story, and how we care for it going forward.”

To kick off the fundraising campaign, CRNHA is excited to announce the Cane River Mini Golf Tournament, a family-friendly event hosted in partnership with Dark Woods Adventure Park. The event highlights CRNHA’s commitment to collaborating with local partners and advancing the broader vision of the Natchitoches Outdoor Recreation Corridor, a growing initiative aimed at enhancing outdoor tourism and community wellness in the region.

The tournament will feature themed holes, local prizes, and special opportunities to learn more about the Discovery Center project. All proceeds will directly support the development of the facility and its exhibits.

To register for the Mini Golf Tournament or learn more, visit www.caneriverdiscovery.org or follow Cane River National Heritage Area on Facebook and Instagram.

“The Cane River Discovery Center is a natural next step in our mission to preserve, interpret, and promote the heritage of this nationally significant landscape,” said Blankenbaker. “We invite the community to get involved — whether by attending our events, donating online, or simply helping us spread the word.”

About the Heritage Area: Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA) is a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and presents the nationally significant heritage of the Cane River region. Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, CRNHA works with regional partners to provide high-quality educational, cultural, and recreational experiences in the area's unique historical settings through a linked system of attractions and historic districts within the Cane River National Heritage Area.