Explore Lake Erie Wildlife at Put-In-Bay’s New Aquatic Visitor Center

On most days, visitors gather around the 200-gallon fish tank near the front desk at the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor
Center on South Bass Island and marvel at the prehistoric-looking baby fish swimming inside. The whiskered species are sturgeon, and although they are endangered in Ohio, hatchlings have been reintroduced to Lake Erie as part of an on-going rehabilitation project. 

“People just absolutely love them,” says Kristin Stanford, wildlife diversity coordinator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife, which operates the center. “For people who are fish people, when they know they can come and actually see sturgeon up close, they get so excited about them.”

Just like the sturgeon, the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitor Center is enjoying a comeback of its own. During 2023 and 2024, ODNR gutted and renovated the historic 1914 brick building — a former fish hatchery — and installed new educational and interactive exhibits across its two-floors. The center reopened to the public Aug. 6, 2025. 

ODNR preserved some of the long tanks where fish were once raised, and current Lake Erie species are now housed in them. In other areas, visitors can see live invasive sea lampreys and the once-endangered Lake Erie water snake up close.

Kids can draw their own fish, frog or turtle, scan it into an interactive display and make it come to life on a screen, and those ages 16 and younger can fish for free from the pier with the help of center staff. 

One of the best views on South Bass Island can be seen at the large, second-floor observation window, where visitors love to snap photos of Put-in-Bay Harbor, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, and Gibraltar Island. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday, June 1 to Oct. 1 and admission is free. 360 W. Shore Blvd., Put-in-Bay, 43456 , 419/742-0008, ohiodnr.gov

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