Lake Isabella’s New Forest Service Visitor Center Was Scheduled for 2026 Completion

LAKE ISABELLA, Kern County — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is coordinating construction of a replacement Forest Service visitor center in Lake Isabella as part of the final phase of the dam safety project.

The Corps’ project information identifies the site as 6212 Lake Isabella Boulevard. A $4.87 million construction contract was awarded in December 2024 and groundbreaking took place in May 2025. The official page describes 2026 as the planned completion year.

What the building will include

The plan describes an approximately 1,500-square-foot visitor center, public area, accessible restroom, offices and parking for passenger vehicles and RVs, along with two electric-vehicle charging spaces.

Why a new center was needed

The previous Forest Service visitor center was displaced by construction of the dam’s emergency spillway. The Corps says a temporary visitor-information operation was established at the local Forest Service fire station.

Important: A target completion year does not prove the visitor center has opened to the public. Check with the Forest Service or the Corps before planning a visit to the new building.

Official source: USACE — Lake Isabella Visitor Center.

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