Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

There is exciting news coming out of Texas about a new botanical gardens and nature center that will be opening soon. It’s the Shangri La and is located in Orange, Texas. The city of Orange has a rich history in the lumber industry and is also the home of the Stark Museum of Art. The museum contains an extensive collection of artwork that focuses on American Western art and artifacts. Orange, Texas has a seaport and most visitors can find their way to Orange by traveling on Interstate 10 into the eastern side of Texas. People that will be visiting this beautiful city in the Lone Star State will find a new botanical garden and nature center that will be open to the public in early May of 2008.

The Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center is going to be a modern Shangri La in Orange, Texas. “Shangri La” means a place of beauty, peace and enlightenment. Visitors and residents of Orange, Texas will find that this modern recreation will show the best of nature and gardens. This ecosystem friendly environment will take up 252 acres of land in the city of Orange. Visitors will be able to go to the Nature Discovery Center, Exhibit Hall, Discovery Theater, Children’s Garden, Exhibition Greenhouses, Cafe and Garden Store. This will just be some of the great things people will get to experience while being on the inside of the Shangri La in Orange, Texas.

Another reason to get excited about this botanical garden and nature center is the fact that they have received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum Certification for Leed®-NC. This prestigious certification is only given to places that show the design and construction reaches the highest green building and performance measures. Shangri La received this in February of 2008 and has only been the 50th place in the world to get this honor. So it just shows you how much time and effort has been put into the making of this modern Shangri La that you find in Eastern Texas.

This is going to be a place that school field trips are made to and parents will want to bring their own kids to the Shangri La. Orange, Texas has always been a great place to travel to and experience a part of Texas culture. Now there is one more reason that travelers will want to include Orange, Texas on their road trips and family vacations; so they can see all the beauty that is at the Shangri La botanical gardens and nature center.