Plains Conservation Center

I was hoping for more activities or interests for the kids, but they got bored quickly. There was a large sand area that lasted about 5 minutes, a few teepees that you can just see from a distance since I don’t think you can go inside, and a yurt that was locked so we couldn’t go in. The visitor center had some reptiles and a display of taxidermed animals, which held the kids’ interests for a bit. We went on a trail hike and saw plenty of prairie dogs, an owl, and a pronghorn, but it was quite hot and sunny on the graveled, unleveled trail so we turned around after 15 minutes. The staff was friendly.

This place is right by my house in the conservatory and I love it! Not only do they hold events sometimes but I don’t have to fear someone building a townhouse right behind me! I love being able to look at the open space. Classic Colorado beauty.

The Plains Conservation Center is a photographer’s dream. A wide variety of wildlife and scenery all within a relatively small area. A great place to photograph one of Colorado’s amazing sunsets.

It was absolutely stunning to visit the Plains Conservation Center. I often imagine what Colorado looked like before the malls, housing developments, and shopping centers were erected and I was so happy to get a glimpse of this during my visit.
The staff were extremely friendly and approachable. The bones, furs, and live snakes/​turtles within the nature center were really fantastic. I especially enjoyed posing with the stuffed pronghorn and bison heads.
Within a short walk from the parking area I enjoyed feeding chickens and perusing the blacksmith shop and Johnson homestead. There were also some tipis to explore which I was excited to learn are available for camping.
I look forward to returning to the Plains Conservation Center with out of town guests as well a to walk/​run/​snowshoe their many trails.

What an absolutely fantastic place! I am very thankful that the Unilocal community introduces me to these types of hidden gems! This place is a wonderful place for hiking, star gazing, learning, and more!
If you have not checked the Plains Conservation Center out, pick a sunny day and make it happen! Great, great experience!

I had a blast here at yesterday’s Unilocal Harvest Hoopla Event hosted here. The center gave us educational information about insect/​animal sex behaviors. I learned that prairie female dogs have sex once a year.
They have tons of prairie dogs, some chickens, some hawks and some antelope. The plains are 1K acres big and they offer hay rides that pass by little homes made to mimic the 1800s styled farm-​styled structures.
They have cool teepees and educational boards about rattle snakes, dung beetles and birds found in that area.

Who knew a place like this existed in the Denver Metro area? The Plains is a 1000 acre (and 9000 additional acres 30 miles further east) outdoor education facility, where kids of all ages can learn a bit about the 19^th century prairie settlers, the plains indians, and all kinds of prairie wildlife. It started out in 1949 to educate farmers in farming and ranching techniques to avoid another dust bowl disaster. It is now an educational non-​profit, funded by private donations. The best part? It’s FREE! They do have programs that will charge a nominal fee, such as guided nature walks, bird watching, and constellation programs. The site also hosts a farm to table dinner each season, where the chefs use cooking techniques of the era. But for 6 days a week you can stroll the grounds at no charge, for as long as its open.
The grounds are just lovely, in a windblown, Little House On The Prairie sort of way. You could spend all day out here, listening to the prairie dogs warning each other of your presence (did you know their yips have adjectives?), checking out the sod houses, the one room schoolhouse, petting the big cows, chasing chickens, or viewing the reptiles in the prairie house. Want to ride your bike? Come on out, and avoid the crowds on the metro bike paths. With 1000 acres to explore, there’s a good chance you will have some privacy.
This is an especially great place for kids to run around and get some fresh air, and learn something in the process.

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review of the Plains Conservation Center yet. Such a shame.
This non-​profit boasts some wonderful views, educational programs, and friendly visits back in time to life on the plains. It truly makes you appreciate our habitat here in the Western region of the country, as well as what we ned to do to preserve it. School groups are given in depth tours and fun, interactive sessions where the staff actually dress in character like people back in the day living off the land. Yeah, that’s right… Oregon Trial style.
Plus, there’s Prairie Dogs scurrying around in their holes everywhere you look. I’m also eager to return for the scenic, sunset rides out to their sister ranch where the «buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play, where seldom is heard a discouraging word. And the skies are not cloudy all day…» okay — I’ll stop now.

we went for the fall harvest and loved it, very fun!

Anything that preserves the history of Aurora and how the people lived before we became the sprawling suburbia we are today is awesome in my book.
There are tons of programs offered by the PCC, including:
Full Moon Walks
Prairie Preschool
Reenactments of prairie living
Plant sales
Cheese making lessons
Herbal remedy lessons
Wildlife viewing
Meteor shower watching
There are also different fundraisers such as Hops for Habitat and dinners.
What a cool place to go and experience some Colorado history!

I have been coming here for years and always had a good time. The offer many different programs to choose from. My favorite event is hops for habitat, you pay $ 30 and you get to drink all you want. There is 14 different breweries who are attending and you get to keep your glass when you leave. It takes place and the end of july. Check out there website for all the different programs that they offer.