Butterfly World opened its doors to the public in March 1988, making it the first and largest butterfly house in the United States. The $1.2 million facility was built by partners Ronald Boender of Ft. Lauderdale and Clive P.Farrell of England. The facility was built on 2.8 acres of leased county land at no cost to taxpayers. It provides visitors with a beautifully-landscaped, unique scientific and educational showplace that has become one of the landmark attractions of South Florida.

Butterfly World's butterfly house and aviaries were designed in consultation with the famed professional designer, James Gardner of London. The architecture is the perfect highlight to Florida's temperate climate and subtropical setting. This allows butterflies to be "outside" on live exhibition year-round.

Amidst thousands of flowers, tropical plants, waterfalls, gardens, and classical music, Butterfly World is a unique, breath-taking site that is one of Florida's leading tourist attractions. It is also a popular "field trip" for tens of thousands of school children yearly.

The Tropical Rain Forest Aviary is one of Butterfly World's finest attractions. This mammoth 8,000 square foot screened enclosure is a marvelous, open air environment within which to enjoy the flight of thousands of live butterflies. It is also the largest single butterfly habitat in the world, soaring to 30 feet in height and enclosing 240,000 cubic feet of space. Inside, over 5,000 butterflies enjoy a natural rain forest environment, complete with flowers, trees, a waterfall, a cave and a cooling tropical mist.

As many as 80 butterfly species from South and Central America, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and other Asian nations are typically found within our aviaries. Some of the favorites include the Owl butterfly, and the brilliant Blue Morpho.

As you leave the Tropical Rain Forest...you will enter our extensive outdoor gardens, beginning with the Lakeside Garden walk and continuing on to the English Rose Garden and Secret Garden. Hundreds of native Florida species live and fly freely outside in these gardens, and feed on the native nectar and caterpillar food sources that have been planted just for them. Cross the Tinalandia suspension bridge to explore the Jewels of the Sky Hummingbird Aviary. New for 1998, is the Lorikeet Encounter where visitors may interact with the "clowns of the bird world" and feed them by hand.