Photos: Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center opens this weekend

Just 16 miles south of Dallas, you'd think you were in the Hill Country.

Photo by Elliott Muñoz

Great views are one of the attractions when visiting the park.

CEDAR HILL — Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill opens to the public this weekend. Formerly owned and then donated by birdwatchers David and Kim Hurt, the land has been preserved and will now be used for educational programs, animal watching, and hiking.

Given its urban surroundings 16 miles south of downtown Dallas, it's a serene retreat among the hustle-bustle of city life.

When the Hurts discovered and purchased 40 acres of the land more than a dozen years ago, they found native plants, endangered birds, and other animals. David Hurt originally wanted to live on the land, but after finding the rich ecosystem, he didn't want to destroy the natural habitat. The Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center spans 205 acres total, and it's owned by the National Audubon Society, the City of Cedar Hill, Dallas County, and Audubon Dallas chapter.

Photo by Elliott Muñoz

The property once belonged to AT&T, and the concrete circle was an antenna used to guide airplanes in. To re-purpose the existing materials at low cost, the area has now become a stage for performances and future demonstrations.

The land is unique in that it marks the convergence of the west, east, and central regions of Texas. It looks like the Hill Country, and yet dogwoods -- native to East Texas -- grow there.

With the emergence of this new center, Dallas County is the only county in the U.S. that has two Audubon centers -- Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center and Trinity River Audubon Center.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11, it's free to get into Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. On other days, cost is $6 for adults; $3 for kids ages 3-12; free for kids under 2; and $4 for seniors.

Take a peek at the lush Dogwood Canyon: