Michigan Wildlife Conservancy

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy — also known as the Bengel Wildlife Center — was founded in 1982 by Russell Bengel to restore Michigan's wildlife legacy for future generations. Set on 259 acres in Bath, Michigan, the property encompasses prairies, forested wetlands, stocked fishing ponds, and four miles of walking trails. Event revenue directly supports the organization's ongoing conservation work throughout the state. The Bengel Wildlife Center serves as both a working natural area and a fully equipped event venue, hosting weddings, corporate events, concerts, festivals, and private dinners. Outdoor ceremony locations on the grounds include two gazebos, a small pond, lakefront views, and numerous meadows and glades. The venue's signature Waterfront Patio is a 3,600-square-foot glass-covered outdoor space featuring a dance floor and firepits, sheltering guests from weather while maintaining open sky views and seating up to 227. The DeVlieg Conservation Hall offers flexible indoor space for up to 75 guests in dinner, classroom, or pub-style arrangements, while the Anderson Great Hall provides a more intimate setting with vaulted two-story ceilings, a stone fireplace, and a second-story wrap-around deck.