RANGELEY — Orgonon, The Wilhelm Reich Museum on Dodge Pond Road, will open for the season Thursday, July 1.

According to museum staff, few places in the world combine the intellectual fascination and raw natural beauty of Orgonon, home of one of the 20th century’s most controversial figures, Austrian born physician-scientist Wilhelm Reich.

Now maintained as The Wilhelm Reich Museum, Orgonon is an historic site and nature preserve comprising 175 acres of fields and woodland, a system of trails, a Conference Center, and the Orgone Energy Observatory.

The Orgone Energy Observatory is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors to the Observatory can enjoy a biographical video about Reich. They then tour the building, view Reich’s scientific inventions and equipment, his study, library, sculptures, vivid paintings and his personal memorabilia. Children can explore a hands-on Discovery Room. And the Observatory roof provides spectacular vistas of the region’s open skies, lakes, and surrounding countryside.

Reich’s tomb, with its dramatic bronze portrait bust, is in a forest clearing nearby.

A bookstore/gift shop gives access to all Reich’s published work.

The observatory is open in July and August, Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. and in September, Sundays only from 1 to 5 p.m.

Special tours are available year-round by appointment; call 864-3443 or send email to wreich@rangeley.org. More information can be accessed on the Web site www.wilhelmreichmuseum. org.