MacKenzie Center

About MacKenzie Center

The MacKenzie Center is an environmental education center run by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources near Poynette in Columbia County, about 25 miles north of Madison. The department lists the property at 285 acres, with interpretive trails, exhibits, museums, and education programs for school and youth groups. The center also hosts wildlife exhibits; it is not an AZA-accredited zoo.

According to the DNR, the grounds and trails are open from dawn to dusk year-round, and a vehicle admission sticker is not required.

Exhibits and habitats

Channel 3000 reported on June 9, 2026 that the wildlife exhibit houses eagles, wolves, bison, and other animals, draws thousands of visitors annually, and serves as the center's main attraction for visitors. The interpretive trails and museums are part of the center's educational offering, according to the DNR.

Conservation and programs

The DNR describes the center as one of the most diverse education centers in Wisconsin, with programming for school and youth groups. A nonprofit, Friends of MacKenzie Center, supports the center. The group says it offers scholarships to schools to help offset field trip costs such as transportation and food, volunteers thousands of hours each year on tasks including woodcutting, the maple program, volunteer teaching, and lawn care, and hosts events for children and families throughout the year. It also runs a Maple Education Program. Its website lists a Fall Festival on October 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The proposed exhibit closure

On June 9, 2026, Channel 3000 reported that the wildlife exhibit could close permanently as the Wisconsin DNR develops a comprehensive master plan for the property. According to the report, Paul Alexander, president of Friends of MacKenzie Center, had emailed volunteers outlining a DNR plan that includes elimination of the wildlife exhibit. Alexander told the station the animals would remain at the facility until they die naturally because there would be nowhere else for them to go, so the exhibit could continue operating for several years before closing. He also pointed to underfunding of the state park system's maintenance as the broader issue.

The DNR confirmed to Channel 3000 that it is working on a master plan that includes the MacKenzie Center but declined an interview. The report said the department was drafting the plan and that, once the draft is complete, it plans to collect public feedback by mail, email, and online submissions.

Planning your visit

Grounds and trails are open dawn to dusk year-round, as listed on the DNR website. The DNR phone number for the center is 608-635-8112 and the email is DNRMacKenzieCenter@wisconsin.gov. The DNR page for the center posts property notices.