Since Northwest Trek opened on July 17, 1975, people have travelled to the 723-acre park to see native animals in their habitat – bison, elk and moose; cougars, wolves and bears.

I dare you not to say “oh my.”

The Pierce County tourism attraction plans to celebrate all those visitors by recognizing Visitor No. 6 million, who, according to park calculations, should show up this weekend.

Admittedly such milestones are arbitrary, but they’re still fun. According to a news release yesterday from park officials, the lucky visitor will receive a prize package worth more than $600. It will include: …

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Northwest Trek has closed its gates to the public so employees can clean up the wildlife park and repair exhibits damaged by the snow, ice and wind storms that battered the region over the past week.

The park hopes to reopen for the Presidents’ Day weekend in mid-February, the park announced in a press release issued today.

“It looks like a battle zone out there now, with downed trees, damaged exhibits and plant debris strewn everywhere,” said Dave Ellis, Northwest Trek’s deputy director. “It’s the worst storm damage I’ve seen in over 25 years.”

Thousands of large tree branches have …

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Fort Nisqually Living History Museum is turning back the calendar 155 years next week.

And you can step back in time for a day at the fort, a restoration of a Hudson’s Bay Co. outpost in Point Defiance Park.

The annual living history day event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 and will feature re-enactors dressed in 1850s garb, according to a news release.

They’ll share their knowledge and skills particular to each building in the fort, which overlooks Puget Sound.

Two new structures – the Education Building and the Visitor Center – were opened …

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