The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center at 8740 Gulf Blvd., in the Navarre Beach Marine Park is open. Guest speakers this morning was Yvonne Harper, State Representative Mike Hill, Senator Don Gaetz and the Honorable Jim Melvin, former Santa Rosa County District 4 commissioner.
“It has been a long journey to get to this point. The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center is a testament to Santa Rosa County and the community. We would not be here today without all their support,” said Cathy Holmes, NBSTCC director.
Now that the acclimation period for the center’s resident loggerhead sea turtle, Gigi is complete, event attendees had the opportunity to greet her. Gigi, who is blind, was found stranded in 1998 and brought to Sea World to be rehabilitated where she remained for more than 17 years. She has settled in nicely to her new environment.
General admission is $5, military and senior admission is $4 and children under age two are free.
Hours for the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Below are photos from today’s grand opening.
