White Mountain Nature Center clears mortgages after emergency fundraising; plans interactive exhibits and expanded raptor programming

Pinetop Lakeside — John Glitzo, representing the White Mountain Nature Center, told the Town Council the nonprofit has paid off its balloon mortgages after an unexpected demand from a private lender, but will need new revenue to replace lease income lost with the sale of industrial properties.

Glitzo said the nature center faced almost $1.2 million in interest-only mortgage principal coming due and, in late 2024, the lender proposed increasing the loans’ principal by roughly $350,000–$400,000. The center declined and sold two leased industrial properties; board members and community donors provided short-term loans and gifts that closed the gap. “We paid off all the mortgages, and we were able to pay back the board members that had loaned money,” Glitzo said, describing a fundraising surge that included an “angel fund” that raised about $145,000 and three board members who pledged $100,000 each plus one $50,000 pledge. One donor also provided a short-term $750,000 cash loan that the center used to avoid foreclosure at year-end.

Why this matters: While the center cleared debt, it also sold leased properties that had provided about $5,000 per month in net revenue (roughly $60,000 per year). Glitzo and the board outlined revenue strategies — expanded admissions, paid raptor shows, a remodeled store and a rotating, interactive diorama — intended to replace lease income and grow earned revenue.

What the Nature Center will do: Glitzo described exhibit and program changes modeled on techniques he learned working as a contractor at Disney. The center is building a 60-foot diorama with mounted specimens (including a recently acquired taxidermy black bear) and an interactive touchscreen that will spotlight specific animals and play associated audio for visitors. The center remodeled its store, installed a point-of-sale system and reports store sales increased about 400% year-to-year after the changes. Raptor-show attendance rose from about 1,200 visitors in 2022 to about 6,450 last year; the center projects more than 10,000 raptor-show attendees this year.

Glitzo said the center is introducing admission pricing for the raptor show to support the new operating model. “We’re charging $2.50 right now. Once again, Disney demand pricing, so we will go to $3.50 in April. And then in the peak season, we'll go to $5 a person,” he said. Glitzo also said the center hopes to present a free-flying bald eagle for shows this summer, one of the few free-flight bald-eagle displays available to the public.

Council response: Council members congratulated the nature center on the community response and the turnaround. Councilor Turner credited Glitzo, the board and volunteers with rapidly finding solutions and said the center’s plans appear likely to increase visitation and program revenue.

Next steps: The center will continue donor outreach through a new “Guardians” committee focused on recurring gifts and will proceed with exhibit installations, a summer camp schedule and expanded raptor programming. Councilors offered logistical support and indicated town staff would work with the center on event coordination as needed.