CDRI

The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI) is a nature center and research-focused organization in the foothills of Texas’s Davis Mountains, about four miles southeast of Fort Davis. Its mission is to foster public awareness, appreciation, and concern for nature, with particular attention to the diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert, through education, visitor experiences, and support for research.

Visitors can explore hiking trails at an elevation of about 5,100 feet and an 18-acre botanical garden featuring a pollinator garden, native grasses exhibit, and the Maxie Templeton Cactus Museum. The Powell Visitor Center provides trail maps and guide booklets, while other onsite attractions include a bird blind, mining exhibit, and gift shop. CDRI also offers educational programs for students and groups, lifelong learning, training and certification opportunities, and access to research and conservation resources. Its website shares news, events, and information about its work, and invites visitors to get involved through membership, volunteering, donations, and other forms of support. CDRI also advocates for protecting the region’s natural environment.