Sneak peek: New visitors center at Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge before it's open to public (2024)

One of the bird-watching capitals of the East Coast is nearly ready to open a $5.6 million center for visitors, but the staff held a sneak peek Friday for state and federal leaders, staff and volunteers.

The new building at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge isn’t open to the public yet, awaiting installation of some flooring, furniture and computer systems, but the grand opening will be later this fall.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams welcomed Sen. Tom Carper as the guest of honor at Friday’s celebration of the visitors center, but he said the real star is nature.

“Folks come here from all over the country and all over the planet,” Carper said, stressing the importance of preservation of natural resources for future generations. “This new center is going to enable us to tell a story they can carry with them the rest of their lives, to pass on to their children and grandchildren.”

The center was funded by the Great American Outdoors Act passed during the pandemic in 2020 with a focus on improving infrastructure at national parks, forests and wildlife refuges.

Bombay Hook has an estimated 110,000 visitors each year, said Kate Toniolo, project leader of the Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Complex which includes Bombay Hook near Smyrna and Prime Hook near Milton.

“I just couldn’t be more excited to be nearing the finish line with this project,” said Toniolo. “I can’t wait to share this with visitors. It’s going to be a wonderful addition for our visitors as well as a great place for our staff to work.”

Why was a new center needed?

The visitors center is about 7,300-square-feet, compared to 4,500 for the old center which was built in 1980 and was at the point where major repairs would be needed because of roof leaks and problems with the plumbing system. The old center is scheduled to be demolished.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided a new, larger building would be a better investment than trying to repair and expand the older building, with an eye on more space for other Fish and Wildlife program offices in addition to Bombay Hook staff.

The new center has a larger multipurpose room for meetings and educational programs.

Exhibits are planned that are more elaborate than the previous displays behind plexiglass.

“We’re going to have hands-on, interactive exhibits that stand the test of time,” said Toniolo.

The staff is finalizing the plans for the exhibits, with installation scheduled for fall 2024.

Workers from Fish and Wildlife ecological services, migratory birds and theoffice of law enforcementwill have offices in the new center in addition to wildlife refuge staff.

“It’s going to house at least 16 people. In the old center we have offices for six,” said Toniolo.

The Bombay Hook biological team which was working in the maintenance shop will now have offices in the new building.

“It will be the first time since I’ve been here that we’ll all be together,” said Toniolo.

Also, the Delaware Bay Estuary Program office in an older building at the wildlife refuge will move into the new visitors center.

Solar panels on the roof will help provide electricity as part of the “green” construction sustainability efforts.

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The new building also has a room for a gift shop operated by the volunteer group, the Friends of Bombay Hook. In the old center, the shop was in a closet where the souvenirs and educational materials were stored. Money raised by the group supports special projects at the wildlife refuge to supplement government funds.

A longtime volunteer with the Friends group in the 1970s and 80s, Jim Webb, attended Friday’s celebration.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Webb. “It’s really an exceptional place, an unbelievable structure. I’ve always been an environmentalist and an outdoors person, and there’s a lot of history here at Bombay Hook. It’s an important place in many ways.”

What are the main attractions at Bombay Hook?

Bombay Hook is on a major flyway for migrating birds along the coast. Snow geese are a favorite of visitors. The refuge also provides a year-round habitat for other birds including egrets, herons, cranes and owls.

“We’re a destination for bird watching,” said Toniolo. “When you look in the parking lot, sometimes you’ll see more license plates from out-of-state than from Delaware.”

The staff members said the refuge is one of the best places to see bald eagles on the East Coast, with more than 20 of our national birds on the property.

Other wildlife include deer, foxes, turtles and snakes (none that are poisonous).

Special programs are planned throughout the year, including on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, when the “Duck, Duck, Goose” waterfowl identification session will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a guided tour of the refuge. Then at 2 p.m., a live bird demonstration will be given by an expert from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Programs are announced on the Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Complex Facebook page.

Stretching eight miles along Delaware Bay and covering 16,251 acres, the refuge is about 80% tidalsalt marshwith mud flats, tidal pools, ponds, streams and meadows. West of the coastal area, there are forests, freshwater ponds, swamps, fields and grassy areas.

But you don’t have to trudge through swamps and marsh to see the animals. The refuge has a 12-mile wildlife drive so you can look for birds and other animals without leaving your car.

Feeling more energetic? You can hike or bike the wildlife drive and branch off on five walking trails including two that are handicapped accessible, and climb three observation towers.

The trails have educational signs, with pictures and descriptions of the animals you may see.

Wildlife photography is a popular activity, but drones aren’t allowed.

The refuge also offers fishing and hunting opportunities, with hunting on specified days in sections far from the sight-seeing roads and trails.

Address, operating hours, admission fees and advice

The address for Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, southeast of Smyrna, off Route 9.

The roads and trails are open daily, including holidays, from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.

The visitor center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. year round, except federal holidays. During spring and fall weekends, the visitor center is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but for Sunday hours, call ahead, 302-653-9345. Sunday hours may depend on the availability of volunteers from the Friends of Bombay Hook.

Admission is $4 per vehicle or $2 per bicyclist or hiker, but hikers and bikers under age 16 are free. An annual pass is $12. Payment must be made by cash or check. Credit cards or debit cards aren’t accepted. Payment can be made at the visitor center, but when the center is closed, pay at the box on the sign near the entrance to the wildlife drive.

Restrooms are available in the visitor center, and port-a-johns are located on the Bear Swamp Trail and Pasture Point Pond.

No food or drinks are sold at the refuge.

Insect repellent is recommended in the late spring, summer and early fall if you plan to leave your car. Mosquitoes and biting flies are a nuisance. The most popular times for visitors are in the spring and fall to see the migrating birds.

Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate and development news. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.