The Hoffman Center

Nestled in the heart of the North Shore, the Hoffman Center is a sanctuary of natural beauty, preserved in 1996 when it was rescued from development into a 57-home subdivision.

Originally the estate of the George S. Brewster family, the property features a stunning 1914 Georgian-style mansion thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its surrounding woodlands. Today, this mansion remains the centerpiece of the Hoffman Center, while additional estate buildings are being restored for future use in support of nature education programs.

In the 1970s, the land was repurposed as a golf course, but by 1982, it was abandoned and left to regenerate. Over time, it has reclaimed its natural character, now flourishing with open meadows, oak-brush thickets, and mixed deciduous forests. Echoes of its past remain—non-native plant species and former golf course water features still dot the landscape.

Depending on the season, a guided nature walk through the Hoffman Center might offer encounters with red-tailed hawks, egrets, herons, woodpeckers, cottontail rabbits, box turtles, woodchucks, opossums, foxes, Canada geese, bats, owls, raccoons, and more. Our grounds are home to over 49 butterfly species and more than 50 bird species—residents and migratory visitors alike—including bluebirds fledged from our bluebird boxes and grass nesting birds which find solace in our transformed 30-acres of native grasslands.

The Hoffman Center is also a refuge for over 150 native plant species, including rare and endangered flora. Among these are the Pink Lady’s Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium acaule), once thought lost from the area.

We invite you during scheduled events to visit and experience the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Hoffman Center—an inspiring place where history, conservation, and discovery meet.