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The Butterfly Haven: The Magic You Didn’t Know You Were Missing!

The family-owned and operated Butterfly Haven in Pingree, Idaho, is home to more than 2,000 butterflies and is Idaho’s largest butterfly house. The Haven also holds 185 plant varieties, two waterfalls and six species of birds including button quail, firefinches and European spinners.  

The Butterfly Haven is a popular spot for birthday parties and school field trips. It’s even hosted activities for the Idaho Falls Garden Club and the Idaho National Laboratory STEM Camp.   

Karen Reed is the chief financial officer, giftshop manager, and co-owner of the Butterfly Haven. Reed said when she and her husband Randy began the business four years ago, they had to have the “if you build it, they will come” mentality from the Field of Dreams movie.  

The positive mindset must have worked, because the Reeds now receive thousands of visitors during their five month-long seasons. So far, they’ve had people from 42 different states and five countries visit the haven this year. 

“It’s magical in there,” Reed said. “It’s fun to watch people come out of there … as they come out, they all have smiles on their faces. It’s just magical. Everybody loves it. You know, it’s just, it’s fun. You get to see the lifecycle of the western monarch going on inside, and it’s just really educational but it’s really fun.” 

Reed shared how visitors can have the chance to feed butterflies from the Haven when they visit the mobile exhibit currently showcased at Bear World. The exhibit will soon be moving from Bear World to the Eastern Idaho State Fair.  

Reed invites everyone to join them for their 3rd anniversary celebration at noon on Saturday, August 7. There will be an outdoor monarch butterfly release, free goodies to those who come, and drinks from Soda Tsunami in Idaho Falls.