Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge preserves 9,621 acres of wetlands and grasslands in southwest Louisiana, combining fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and former rice fields that support Gulf Coast wildlife. About 25 miles southeast of Lake Charles, it also serves as a place for learning about the region’s ecosystems through its visitor center on Louisiana Highway 27, opened in 1994 and reopened in 2009 after Hurricane Rita damage. In 2004, the refuge became headquarters of the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, making it an important center for managing and interpreting a broader expanse of coastal habitat.