A short drive northwest of Denver will take you to the fascinating and colourful Butterfly Pavilion. This insect sanctuary was founded in 1995, and is run on a non-profit basis. It covers 2,787 square metres and is home to over 5,000 animals in total.
Step into the humid conditions of the Wings of the Tropics exhibit where over 1,600 beautiful butterflies flutter around you in this recreated rainforest habitat. The Butterfly Pavilion buys around 1,000 chrysalises per week from farms around the globe, supporting sustainable farming in endangered ecosystems.
You will have the chance to discover the fascinating world of ground-dwelling creatures at the Crawl-A-See-Em exhibit. If you’re brave enough for a close encounter, you will be charmed by Rosie, the resident Chilean rose hair tarantula, which you can stoke and hold – a thrilling experience.
The Butterfly Pavilion also houses small marine animals of the sort you might find in rock pools on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Water’s Edge touch tank lets you come into direct contact with many types of invertebrates, including horseshoe crabs, sea stars, anemones and sea cucumbers.
The outdoor space has been carefully designed to optimise the native butterfly population. The gardens are full of plants that provide shelter for chrysalises, and food for the caterpillars, as well as an abundance of fragrant flowers to provide nectar to the adult butterflies. Wandering around the 800-metre path in the summer months, you may well catch a glimpse of the larger wild animals that stop by, including rabbits, prairie dogs, herons and even eagles!
The Butterfly Pavilion is open every day, apart from Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. During the weeks between September and May, you may wish to visit after 1:30 pm to avoid the crowds of school students. It is located in Westminster, only 15 minutes by car from downtown Denver, and free parking is available.
