Grand Traverse Butterfly House opens, offers hands-on spring fun

Hundreds of butterflies, axolotls, beetles and tarantulas are back under one roof in Williamsburg as the GT Butterfly House & Bug Zoo reopened for its 2026 season, giving Grand Traverse County families a close-to-home stop as spring turns to summer.

The attraction sits at 8840 M-72 East, about one mile east of the casino, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the zoo closing at 5 p.m. Staff ask visitors to arrive 30 minutes before closing. Admission is listed at $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 4 through 12, and free for children 3 and under, keeping it within reach for family outings and school visits.

Inside, the experience is designed to be self-guided, family-friendly, indoors and barrier-free. The butterfly house features hundreds of exotic butterflies from around the globe, along with a honeybee observation hive that lets guests watch the colony at work and try to spot the queen bee. The bug zoo adds amphibians and insects to the mix, turning the visit into a hands-on lesson in how creatures live and why they matter.

Cyndie Roach, the curator, has said the goal is bigger than entertainment. The staff wants visitors to leave with a better memory and a better appreciation for insects and amphibians that many people usually fear or dislike. Roach has also said people are more likely to protect animals once they understand them, a message that fits the zoo’s mission to educate, engage and entertain. A previous spring outreach effort included free milkweed seed packets beginning on Mother’s Day, tying the season opening to pollinator conservation.

That conservation message carries into a larger fundraiser planned for May 30 at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City. Butterflies and Brews is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. and will include a live butterfly release, a silent auction, guest speakers and kids’ crafts. Ticket sales will benefit Grand Traverse butterfly charities, extending the season opening beyond a single afternoon and into a broader effort to support pollinators across the county.