Weber State University faculty and alumni have contributed scientific and artistic elements to the new Antelope Island State Park Visitor Center. The facility recently underwent a multi-year expansion and held a grand opening on Oct. 2.
Assistant Professor of Art Kellie Bornhoft created 96 detailed illustrations of species, 50 of which are displayed in the visitor center as part of a mosaic. These illustrations, which are in the public domain, depict plants and animals within their food webs. Bornhoft previously worked on the Wake the Great Salt Lake project, which featured illustrations of species like the roundworm Diplolaimelloides woaabi, a species discovered by WSU assistant professor Julie Jung during her post-doctoral work.
The visitor center includes geological samples and photos donated by retired WSU professor Adolph Yonkee. Other WSU contributions include photography by Benjamin Zack featuring faculty members Carie Frantz, Rebecka Brasso, and John Cavitt. Research by these faculty members informs the island's ecological understanding, such as Frantz's work on declining water levels and salinity, Brasso's studies on mercury in the food web, and Cavitt's research regarding the snowy plover shorebird population.
The visitor center design, led by interpretive planner Becky Menlove, aims to provide an immersive experience for guests. For school groups, the facility includes an Education Center entrance where students can view large murals. Additionally, WSU student Janika Linville illustrated teaching resources used by staff to educate K-12 classes.
James Bustin, a 2026 Weber State University zoology graduate, works at the center running productions and educating guests. Bustin, who has researched songbirds and California gulls, noted that visiting the island provides a significant learning opportunity given the current water levels of the Great Salt Lake.
