(Radio Iowa) – The visitors center at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City will remain closed indefinitely due to heavy damage from summer storms. Nancy Corona, the visitors services manager at the center, says heavy hail and flooding last July left extensive damage to the ceiling, drywall, rugs and exhibits, including the seed lab. She says the center will not be assessed for long-term repairs until next year.

“First phase was clean up, and second phase was just getting us back in the office and getting us up and running again,” Corona says. “And now third phase will be getting that engineering information and costs and the scope of the work, and then we can give a projection at that point.”

Corona says the visitors center will remain closed to the public for at least several months. The outdoor refuge, including the surrounding trails and hunting grounds, remains open to the public.