Outdoor Adventure Captured Indoors At Adventure Center In Detroit
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - Plenty of summertime excitement downtown Thursday. The governor and Detroit's mayor cut the ribbon on the DNR's brand new "outdoor adventure center" along the riverfront.
The center on the waterfront near Milliken State Park and Harbor is intended to allow metro Detroiters to experience all that great outdoors in Michigan has to offer -- in an indoor setting reports WWJ's Sandra McNeill.
Governor Rick Snyder checked it out, even taking a turn in a kayak.
"It was amazing, in less than a half hour I did mountain biking, ATV rides, snow mobile ride, many activities. I caught a fish," said Snyder.
Chief of Parks and Recreation for the DNR Ron Olson says the center offers a taste of all the adventures Michigan offers outdoors in one building including a waterfall, simulated water and a boat for a summer feel and a snowmobile for virtual winter fun.
"We are trying to stimulate people to get interested so they will find their way and maybe find their passion - we also have an archery range and they might want to do that and work their way outside and do the kind of things you can do inside, outside."
Kelsie DeRiter works downtown and stopped in during her lunchbreak and caught a virtual fish.
"I caught a big bass," said DeRiter of the virtual fishing experience. "It's awesome, it's just a great experience. It's just like fishing in real life - I've done it before but I've never caught anything that big before so that was cool."
The Outdoor Adventure Center opens to the public on July 20.