Standing some 6 feet high at the shoulder and living wild in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, elk are perhaps the most spectacular, if underappreciated, element of the state's wildlife. Many Pennsylvanians don't even know they're there.

A public-private partnership that's developing an elk viewing center near Benezette, Elk County, reports it is about $2.3 million short of the $12.4 million needed to complete its plans for what is billed as the largest elk watching and conservation education facility in the eastern United States.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in fall of 2008, but heavy construction began last month. Plans call for a 8,420-square-foot building on 245 acres on Winslow Hill.

The Elk Country Visitor Center, a partnership of the state and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, is expected to include environmentally friendly features including rainwater collection and reuse, dark sky light fixtures, use of indigenous materials and responsibly harvested timber, and use of low emitting paints, adhesives and carpets.

The center will include educational exhibits, trails, story theater, meeting rooms, display areas and wildlife viewing blinds where sightseers can watch the wild elk in their natural habitat. Construction completion is projected for spring 2010. No opening date is planned.

Rawley Cogan, director of fundraising for the Elk Foundation, said the organization had raised $10.1 million, but is working to secure the final $2.3 million to close out its fundraising campaign.

"Under the partnership agreement, the commonwealth is paying for design and construction, while the Elk Foundation is raising money for exhibits and operation," he said. "We're still working with donors who are interested in helping fulfill this commitment."

Contributors include the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Dominion Foundation, Thoreson Foundation, Safari Club International, Eastern Chapter Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and individual donors.

To get more information or to chip in, visit www.pennsylvaniaRMEF.org or dial 1-800-CALL-ELK.