NAVARRE — The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center will have its grand opening Tuesday, Aug. 9. The event begins 9 a.m. at 8740 Gulf Blvd., in the Navarre Beach Marine Park.
Guest speakers will include State Rep. Mike Hill and 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, the center’s director.
Now that the acclimation period for the center's resident loggerhead sea turtle, Gigi, is complete, event attendees will be the first to greet her. Gigi, who is blind, was found stranded in 1998 and brought to Sea World to be rehabilitated. She remained there for more than 17 years.
All guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony will receive complimentary admission to the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center. Regular admission prices apply after the ribbon-cutting; general admission is $5, military and senior admission is $4, and children under age 2 enter free.
Hours for the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Visit www.navarrebeachseaturtles.org or contact Yvonne Harper, ycharper@yahoo.com or 910-1572, for more information.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center sets grand opening