May 1st is full of excitement for Turtle Bay Exploration Park: the opening of Wings of Summer: Butterflies! again this summer through July 10th, the long-awaited reopening of the Boardwalk from the Museum to Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp, the Park will be open seven days a week through Labor Day, and Spring Plant Sale Prices have been extended through May (30% off for members, 20% off for non-members at the Turtle Bay Nursery).
At Butterflies, visitors observe hundreds of butterflies in a tranquil, enclosed garden. The butterfly house usually consists of up to 32 species of butterflies found throughout the United States. The butterflies arrive as chrysalis and will eclose (emerge) in the butterfly house. Guests can witness this magical experience as butterflies come out, dry their wings and set flight. Or, guests can release their own emerging butterfly for $1 per person (when chrysalises are available). Butterflies is made possible by the support of Dennis & Sherrill Bambauer, Bob & Jean Blankenship, Bill & Juanita Cox, Doreeta Domke, John & Molly Mancasola, Lee & Judy Salter, and Dick & Mary Stimpel. Open May 1st through July 10th.
After a year of restoration work, the Boardwalk path from the Museum to the Forest Camp will, again, be open for visitors as of May 1st. Brief closures due to hotel construction will occur later in the project and will be announced as soon as dates are available. During these times, the Riparian Forest Adventure trail will, again, provide a route to the Forest Camp for guests.
Turtle Bay begins operating on summer hours on May 1st through September 5th—open seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The butterfly house is open a half-hour after the Park opens until 3:30 p.m. each day through July 10th. The Turtle Bay Nursery is open every Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
