Mountain Park Environmental Center

Renovations

In 2006, MPEC began raising funds for a 3-phase, $1.7 million renovation of the historic
Horseshoe Lodge. The Lodge is a depression-era adobe structure built by WPA crews. It was
historically used for camps and school groups during the year's warm months and fell into
significant disuse through the last couple of decades.

In October 2008, completion of Phase 1 allowed MPEC to move our headquarters into the
completed portion of the Lodge, with 3 classrooms, adequate office space, a large interpretive
center and gift shop, and public restrooms. The renovation includes many "green" facets,
including foam-flush composting toilets, a woody biomass boiler heating system, and lots of
recycled
insulation. Many volunteers contributed their time and energy to the renovation, ultimately saving
MPEC many thousands of dollars.

Phase 2, completed in the fall of 2009, has transformed the West Wing into eleven beautiful
overnight rooms (total capacity around 30) and a full-service dining and kitchen for groups.

Phase 3, slated to be complete mid-fall 2011, is creating two dormitory-style rooms, including
new restrooms, in the East Wing, and will be geared towards housing student and youth groups
for multi-day educational experiences.