The Wade Bourne Nature Center is a museum and event space in Rotary Park that honors the legacy of Clarksville native Wade Bourne, who dedicated his life to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Visitors can explore a nature discovery area where children can engage in hands-on learning about the natural world, view rotating art exhibits by local artists featuring native species, and see live animals including a large native aquarium, a rescued eastern box turtle, a corn snake, and other reptiles and amphibians. The viewing deck overlooks the woods and offers an excellent spot to watch the many wild birds that visit the feeders. Outside, the grounds feature a pollinator garden, butterfly meadow, Monarch Larvae Monitoring Area, and a community garden showcasing ten different gardening methods. The center is certified as a Wildlife Education Center through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is working toward Level 1 Arboretum status through the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. The Nature Center offers daily programming, live taxidermy demonstrations, guided hikes, birdwatching, and family-friendly programs year-round.
The mission of the Wade Bourne Nature Center is to promote conservation and nature education for all ages while connecting visitors with the environment. Surrounding the center is Rotary Park, a 111-acre oasis in the middle of Clarksville, offering five miles of hiking and biking trails, the scenic Wall Branch Creek, an 18-hole disc golf course, an RC track, an amphitheater, covered pavilions, and more. Rotary Park is open daily from 5am until 9pm. The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and government holidays.
