Project Summary
The National Loon Center will be a world-class loon and freshwater research and education facility located in Crosslake, Minnesota, containing 20,000-square-feet of immersive, high-tech exhibits and serving as a hub for international loon research. The family-friendly destination will entertain visitors from across the country and serve as a home for national efforts to protect the iconic loon and preserve our northern lakes. The National Loon Center will open to the public in the spring of 2027.
Live Camera
Watch our future home come to life, frame by frame. Tune in to our on-site camera to check up on building progress and see live updates on construction site activity until we open next spring. The feed is updated with a new photo every five minutes.
Progress Updates
June 11, 2026
As shown in the photos below, the elevator shaft for our building is now complete! Drilling has also been completed on 35 of the 50 geothermal wells, and the solar array foundations – each weighing nearly 90,000 pounds – have been poured and backfilled. Underground plumbing work is now underway, as a busy summer continues en route to our grand opening next spring.
May 28, 2026
Construction continued this past week as permanent power was installed, power was brought to the job trailer, and a construction camera was installed. Crews also completed waterproofing and backfill for the elevator foundation, began work on the water main, and started geothermal well drilling. Ten of the fifty geothermal wells are complete. Next week, work will continue with geothermal drilling, the start of the elevator shaft, and the beginning of solar array foundations.
May 14, 2026
Preparations for the geothermal system are now complete, and fifty wells will be drilled over the next few weeks. Using the earth’s constant underground temperature, all of these wells will work to heat and cool our building depending on the season, enabling the National Loon Center to operate as a near net-zero energy facility. Crews are also working on the elevator pit foundations and utility tie-ins, and construction is scheduled to begin on the solar canopy foundations.
Visitor Experience
We’re creating a one-of-a-kind experience inside our building, working with Dimensional Innovations to curate an environment that immerses visitors into the life of a loon. Three stories of interactive, high-tech exhibits will each accentuate an important aspect of a loon’s life, from float to flight.
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