Underwater Pond Dome at Indian Springs Gives Visitors Unique View of Nature
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 26, 2025)
White Lake, MI – Below the surface of the pond at Indian Springs Metropark’s Environmental Discovery Center is an amazing room with clear walls and a dome that gives visitors a unique perspective of the nature inside the pond.
This underwater landscape features plants and fish that call the pond home.
The Indian Spring Metropark Environmental Discovery Center and dome were opened around 2005.
The Environmental Discovery Center is a gateway into the complexity and beauty of prairies, wetlands and woods. The EDC features 60 acres of restored native prairie ecosystems within the 2500-acre park. The award-winning EDC building also contains classrooms, a science lab and a 150-person event room used for a variety of school, scout and public programs, as well as special events. The interactive exhibits feature the diversity of the park’s ecosystems, including the underwater pond viewing room.
Danielle Mauter, Chief of Marketing and Communications, told Oakland County Times that “The chance to view any aquatic creature up close from inside the dome is a fantastic and unique experience! You see a snapshot of life at the bottom of a naturalized pond, with an opportunity to see native species like largemouth bass, sunfish, painted and snapping turtles, northern water snakes, crayfish and more.”
The animals aren’t always close to the windows, and sometimes the water can be murky or the windows a bit green from algae. However the challenges can make it all the more exciting when a beautiful little sunfish or cute little crayfish makes an appearance.
The dome is cleaned periodically by a team of certified divers. They use soft microfiber cloths to wipe off algae to avoid scratching the surface. It can take a team of 2-3 divers 1-2 hours to fully clean the dome.
Anyone can visit the dome and enjoy the view. There are also programs year round for school groups and the public of all ages.
“Many of our school programs focus on wetlands, since Indian Springs is at the headwaters of the Huron River,” Mauter said. “Each school group visits the pond dome during their interpretive program for a unique and fun educational experience. Interpretive staff is available to the public at the center 9am-5pm daily to answer any questions about the pond, dome and park.”
The dome isn’t the only cool feature of Indian Springs.
“When you are in the park, you should definitely also check out the surrounding nature trails and brand new adventure themed playground. Indian Spring Metropark is the perfect “close to home” day trip location for families looking for something unique to do,” Mauter said. “It is also known as a habitat for Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes and visitors may get the opportunity to see them along trails, especially on warm days when they might be out “sunning”.
Visitors must have a daily or annual Metroparks pass to enter any Metropark.
The full calendar of public events can be found at: https://www.metroparks.com/indian-springs-metropark/#events
Learn more at https://www.metroparks.com/indian-springs-metropark/indian-springs-metropark-environmental-discovery-center/
