Flint Hills Discovery Center receives grant to help fund new exhibit

MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) – The Flint Hills Discovery Center has received a $200,000 Kansas Visitor Attraction Grants award to help build a new immersive virtual Flint Hills exhibit.

This funding will be matched by the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation to fund a new Flint Hills immersive virtual experience to enhance the Discovery Center visitor experience, improve regional quality of life, and positively impact the economies of Manhattan and the state.

The proposed exhibition, titled “Stepping into the Prairie,” will use high-definition projectors, surround sound speakers, and motion-sensing devices to create a virtual Flint Hills environment that reacts to guests in the space.

The exhibit will feature the sights and sounds of the tallgrass prairie digitally recreated to produce an immersive educational experience. The purpose of the TASK program is to provide one-time funding opportunities for the development of new tourist attractions or the improvement of existing tourist attractions in the State of Kansas.

“We are thrilled to announce our latest exhibit enhancement for the Flint Hills Discovery Center that combines the latest in immersive exhibit technology with the timeless qualities of the tallgrass prairie.” Stephen Bridenstine, deputy director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, said. “This grant from the Kansas Office of Tourism is another testament to the strength of our mission and our continued success as a regional attraction.”

The Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation is also providing matching funding in the amount of $200,000 for a total exhibit project cost of $400,000.

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