The Baytown Nature Center was once home to over 360 houses that made up Brownwood subdivision. As the years went on, local industries began to withdraw groundwater from the area, and the land slowly began to subside. The ground began to sink little by little over time, until eventually some houses began to experience tidal flooding and others became submerged in the bay.
Then in 1983, Hurricane Alicia wrecked havoc on Brownwood and rendered the subdivision uninhabitable. The homes were demolished, the land was abandoned, and eventually the City of Baytown bought the entire track of land. Twelve years after the downfall of a once prestigious neighborhood, the Baytown Nature Center opened. The Baytown Nature Center was created to bring the land back to it's natural mix of wetlands, brackish water, and forested areas.
Today, this 450-acre peninsula brings fun opportunities for families to experience the joys of the outdoors. The Baytown Nature Center is an official site on the Great Texas Coastal Birding being home to more than 300 species of birds who depend on this area for migration, feeding or nesting. It is also an important nursery area for a variety of aquatic species, including shrimp, crab and fish. This former residential subdivision now features picnic shelters, three fishing piers, two pavilions and two overlooks. It also includes the Crystal Bay Butterfly Garden, the Children’s Nature Discovery Area and the Myra C. Brown Bird Sanctuary. Open 30 min. before sunrise, and close 30 min. after be sure to take the time to explore one of our favorite places in Baytown!
This cache description is viewable in ASL here: BTGT 03: Due to Subsidence
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