CORTLAND, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley’s newest connecting point to nature can be found at Mosquito Lake State Park.
The park’s new Nature Center features two cabins – a classroom in one and an exhibition space in the other.
Surrounding the center, which sits near the entrance to the campgrounds, are an archery range, a bird feeding area and the site of a future mews that will be constructed by Raptor Hallows Sanctuary for the care and sheltering of falcons, hawks and owls.
Mary Mertz, director of the state natural resources department, came to the center Friday for the grand opening ceremony. She praised the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park, Raptor Hallows and many volunteers for helping to make it possible.
Mertz described the new Nature Center as another reason why Ohio’s parks have been ranked the best in the nation.
The two structures in the Nature Center are connected by a large wooden deck that is used for observation and educational purposes. A pollinator garden, natural bird feeding stations and other attractions surround it.
The park is a stopping point for migratory birds heading south in the spring and north in the fall, and the bird feeders will be a place to view them. “They have attracted about 30 different species so far and will attract more as migration occurs again within the next few months,” Mertz said.
The Nature Center is on the former site of the volleyball courts. “They weren’t getting much use, so we decided to repurpose it,” said Salim Fadzl, park manager. The project cost between $150,000 and $170,000, he estimated, with funding coming from the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park, the natural resources department and the state legislature.
Its two structures were once cabins at the KOA campgrounds near Pymatuning Lake.
The park’s Friends group purchased the structures from KOA in 2023, moved them to the site and phased in improvements, including a new roof and air conditioning.
The exhibition cabin has three large aquariums with fish, turtles and other live animals. It also has an animal skull collection and other natural exhibits.
The educational structure is a classroom and library where visitors can “go to school,” Mertz said. It will be the site of public programming that will cover boating, hunting, nature and wildlife.
Beth Kotwis Carmichael, director of Truly Trumbull, the county’s tourism agency, said the Nature Center provides another reason for visitors to explore the massive state park.
“We’re talking about giving people more ways to spend time here and connect with the park, with programs, exhibits and hands-on learning,” Carmichael said. “It’s a dedicated space for passive or active engagement that was much needed.”
Jason Lee, the park’s naturalist, will provide many of the learning opportunities at the Nature Center, and Carmichael praised him for his vision regarding the project and his passion for the park.
Mosquito Lake State Park is one of 67 parks in the state with over 2,400 acres of land. It also possesses the second largest inland lake in Ohio, second only to Grand Lake St. Marys, which is near the Indiana border.
The park’s 7,850-acre lake allows unrestricted horsepower boating and hosts many major fishing tournaments. Its land area has more than 200 campsites, a full-service marina and hiking and bridal trails. It hosts a weekend every spring that attracts bird watchers from across the country.
Mosquito Lake is one of 76 state parks and another reason why the state’s park system was recently named the best in the nation.
In September, Ohio was awarded the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. It earned the award over fellow finalists Florida and Wyoming.
Pictured at top: Mosquito Lake State Park’s new Nature Center.