In January 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District acquired the former Bank of America property at 6212 Lake Isabella Boulevard in Lake Isabella for relocation of the U.S. Forest Service visitor center after USFS selected the location as the preferred site for their new location following a rigorous USACE environmental study and planning process.

The scope of the project includes demolition of the Bank of America building, building the Visitor Center, site parking, site improvements, landscaping, and signage. There will be two EV charging stations included in the base contract.

The former visitor center was displaced by construction of a new emergency spillway as part of the Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project and a temporary visitor center has been co-located with the USFS Lake Isabella fire station in the interim.

Earlier this year the Bank of America building was demolished by USACE contactors. Construction of the new USFS visitor center is expected to begin in 2025, with completion in January 2026. 
 

(Last updated: 7/25/2024)

ARCHIVE

Feb. 2, 2024, USACE begins demolition at future Lake Isabella visitor center site

Jan. 10, 2023, USACE completes real estate acquisition for new USFS visitor center in Lake Isabella

June 30, 2021, Final environmental documents released for USFS visitor center relocation in Lake Isabella

June 28, 2021, Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) #8

April 12, 2021, Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) #8

April 12, 2021, To All Interested Parties Letter

April 22, 2021, Virtual Public Meeting recording about Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA).

April 22, 2021, Virtual Public Meeting Slide Deck

​June 4, 2020, Public Meeting Slide Deck and recording of meeting.


Main Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project page