Lake Carlos Visitor Center
LOCATION ◦ ALEXANDRIA MN
YEAR ◦ 2025
Visitor Center Fabrication, Interpretive Displays & Interactive Installations
Evergreen Creative fabricated and installed a full interior exhibit redesign at the Lake Carlos State Park Visitor Center in Alexandria, MN. Working under the direction of interpretive planners and designers at 106 Group—who were contracted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources—we transformed the space into a hands-on educational experience centered around lake science, regional wildlife, and glacial geology.
The refreshed exhibit invites visitors to explore the ecology of Lake Carlos through tactile displays, playful interactives, and large-scale interpretive elements. Highlights include immersive water-depth lighting, a wall of life-sized fish species, interactive water-quality tubes, and a custom 3D relief map showing how water flows through the region’s lake system.
Key fabrication components included:
Water Quality Tubes & Interactive Signage
Clear vertical tubes with suspended sediment and light filtration, supported by stylized illustrations and educational prompts encouraging visitor participation.Custom 3D Lake Relief Map
A tactile topographic model showing the shape, depth, and water flow of Lake Carlos and its connections to surrounding rivers — complete with embedded prompts and wildlife elements.Freestanding Fish & Depth Displays
Life-sized sculptural fish and LED-lit depth zones help demonstrate which species live at different layers of the lake, turning lake science into visual discovery.Suspended Kayak & Oversized Cattails
A ceiling-hung kayak with transparent water layer evokes motion and activity above a series of oversized, sculptural cattails that anchor the space thematically.Wall Graphics, Panel Fabrication & Scenic Treatments
All interpretive signage, wall wraps, and graphic displays were produced in-house and installed on-site. Finishes included faux-wood textures, scenic layering, and UV-stable coatings for long-term durability.
Durable materials and precision fabrication techniques were critical for this high-traffic public space. Evergreen used CNC-machined structural components, custom-cut acrylic, embedded lighting effects, and robust scenic finishes to ensure longevity and visitor engagement. All major components were fabricated in our Minnesota shop and installed on site by our team.
The result is an inviting, discovery-driven environment that helps families, students, and park-goers connect with the science and ecology of Lake Carlos by fostering curiosity and stewardship through play and hands-on learning.
