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Butterfly Biosphere

In the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation Building Honoring the Memory of Hilda Ruth Harrel

As Utah’s only butterfly conservatory and insectarium, the Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point is an experience unlike any other! Explore the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Butterfly Conservatory, where over a thousand live butterflies from around the world inspire and awe guests of all ages. The Discovery Zone is home to hundreds of live insects that all play a very important role in Earth’s ecosystems, some of which you may get to meet during our daily Critter Encounters! Finish up your experience with a Butterfly Release or Lab Tour to create memories that will last a lifetime.

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3003 N. Thanksgiving Way
Lehi UT 84043

801.768.2300

Monday – Saturday
9 am – 8 pm

Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving & Christmas Days

Admission

EXPLORER PASS

See it all with an Explorer Pass! A Thanksgiving Point Explorer Pass grants admission into all five venues (Museum of Natural Curiosity, Farm Country, Mountain America Museum of Ancient Life, Ashton Gardens, and Butterfly Biosphere) for one day.

Adults: $38

Children (ages 3-12): $29

Children ages 2 and under: Free

BUY PASS

Regular Season Admission

Thanksgiving Point members: Free

Adult Admission: $24

Youth Admission (ages 13-24): $19

Child Admission (ages 3-12): $17

Seniors (65+): $21

Children ages 2 and under: Free

BUY TICKETS

BECOME A MEMBER

Enjoy free admission to five award-winning venues, including two world-class museums, a butterfly conservatory, a 50-acre garden, and a working farm.

Receive advance purchase opportunities and discounts on popular day camps, youth and adult classes, and special events.

Take advantage of exclusive discounts on dining and shopping, plus receive perks like bringing guests for half-off regular admission.

BECOME A MEMBER

MUSEUMS FOR ALL

Museums For All is a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits.

With presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer card, admission is available for up to six people at $3 per adult, dependent children free. Available in person only. Not available for online purchases.

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NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS

We welcome nonprofit community groups to Thanksgiving Point! To learn more about pricing and the reservation process for nonprofit groups, follow the link below.

MAKE A RESERVATION

GROUP PRICING

– Groups of 20+ receive 20% off regular admission prices.
– To receive the discount rate, groups must enter and pay as a group in one transaction.
– Reservation does not denote private experience – this is a public area.
– No amplified music or microphones allowed.
– Valid only during regular hours of operation.
– Blackout dates apply (Luminaria, Tulip Festival, Utah Symphony at the Waterfall, Labor Day Luau, and other special events as scheduled).

Is IT a Stick or a Walking stick?

Walking sticks are insects that belong to their own order – Phasmida or Phasmatodea. This order is characterized by bugs that look like plants and sticks. If you’ve been in the Biosphere, it’s likely you’ve seen them in our Invertebrate Adventure exhibit, but then again, maybe not. Blending in is their specialty.

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Ant carrying a leaf

Leafcutter Ants

Open with regular venue hours | Included with venue admission

See the newest permanent exhibit at the Butterfly Biosphere: the 120,000-ant colony of female leafcutters! Leafcutter ants, native to South and Central America, form one of the largest and most complex animal societies in the world – second only to humans. This hardworking species redefines teamwork and is truly spectacular. Come view the ants performing their duties and check in with an Explorer to learn more about these small-but-mighty critters!

 

 

 

Butterfly Biosphere Trading Post

Community Insect Collection

October Bug of the Month: Carnivorous Bugs

Join Thanksgiving Point’s Community Insect Collection! Learn more about the bugs that live around you by making and sharing your observations. Take a photo of a unique bug, bring it into the Butterfly Biosphere and trade it for points.  This collection is an extension of the Trading Post at the Museum of Natural Curiosity – your Trading Post points are linked to your account so you can grow points for both locations. Save up enough points to take home a special prize discovered by other explorers like yourself!

Download Community Insect Collection Rules

Download Observation Card

Tales for tots

TALES FOR TOTS

Fridays | 11- 11:20 am

Join us for our hands-on storytelling adventures, Tales for Tots. Each week a new story is read followed by a fun activity that goes along with that story.

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Thanksgiving Point Team member in Red polo stands behind a desk in front of seated group of people

Critter Encounters

Daily | 12 Noon, 3 pm, 6 pm

Go beyond the glass with this hands-on opportunity! Check out the Critter Corner during your trip around the museum for a chance to hold a friendly bug. These regularly timed shows allow you to learn about bugs and the important role they play in the environment!

 

Mystery Night

MYSTERY NIGHT

 

Returning October 2022

Included with regular venue admission

Butterfly Release & Lab Tour

Butterfly Release

$4 per person ($3 for Thanksgiving Point members)
Help one of our newly-emerged butterflies spread their wings with this immersive experience! Join our entomologists in releasing young butterflies into the conservatory and help a butterfly celebrate its first flight!

Butterfly Releases are available Monday-Friday at 11 am and 5 pm, and Saturdays at 11 am. Guests must purchase Butterfly Releases in-person at the Butterfly Biosphere Front Desk.

Lab Tour

$12 per person

Ever wonder what it’s like to be an entomologist? Join the team in the lab to learn about what it takes and why it’s important to protect insects, invertebrates, arachnids, and more. This behind-the-scenes tour includes a Butterfly Release and is the most immersive, hands-on experience in the biosphere.

Lab Tours are available every Monday and Saturday at 1 pm. Guests must purchase tours in-person at the Butterfly Biosphere Front Desk.