Central Florida's Trout Lake Nature Center is a 230 acre wildlife preserve located near the southern entrance to Ocala National Forest in Eustis, Florida. It is donation-based nonprofit that was created by the community to protect a wetland area along the edges of Trout Lake. Operating for over 30 years, TLNC works to educate people about wildlife, ecosystems, aquatic area and more.
The Center has a 1,000 foot long boardwalk extending into Trout Lake, with a pavilion on the lake. There are numerous interpretive trails including an adventure walk with a swinging bridge and a picnic pavilion. The Charles Newell Hall and Museum serves as a museum/classroom and the Environmental Education Center housing an audio visual meeting room seating 125 people. The education center also has a touch table for little ones to explore. Both buildings contain hundreds of preserved Florida wildlife, and there are also live turtles inside the museum, and a butterfly habitat in the courtyard.