Thanksgiving Point facts for kids
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View of the Thanksgiving Point tower
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | Thanksgiving Point 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way Lehi, Utah Utah, United States |
| Visitors | Average of 2.8 million each year |
Thanksgiving Point is a special kind of non-profit place in Lehi, Utah, USA. It has a farm, gardens, and museums, both indoors and outdoors. Its five main attractions are Ashton Gardens, Butterfly Biosphere, Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, and Museum of Natural Curiosity.
Thanksgiving Point also has places to eat, event spaces, and gift shops. About 2.8 million people visit Thanksgiving Point every year. Some other businesses, like a golf course and movie theaters, are also located here but are run by different groups. Thanksgiving Point also works with Utah State University for some programs.
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The Story of Thanksgiving Point
Thanksgiving Point was started in 1995 by Karen Jackman Ashton and Alan C. Ashton. Alan Ashton helped create a software company called WordPerfect in 1979. In 1994, WordPerfect was sold. After this, Alan bought some farmland in Lehi, Utah. He gave it to his wife Karen as a Valentine's Day gift in 1995.
They wanted to build a community garden and farm. They chose the name "Thanksgiving Point" to show their gratitude. The Thanksgiving Point organization officially became a non-profit in 1997.
How Thanksgiving Point Grew
The first part of Thanksgiving Point to open was Farm Country in 1996. Farm Country teaches visitors where our food comes from. It shows how a real farm works.
In 1997, Thanksgiving Gardens opened part-time. It was later renamed Ashton Gardens in 2016. By 2000, the gardens were fully open. They cover 55 acres and offer a peaceful place for the community.
The Museum of Ancient Life opened in 2000. It has a huge dinosaur walk-through. This museum is 30,000 square feet.
In 2014, the Museum of Natural Curiosity opened. This family science museum is 45,000 square feet. It has four indoor areas and a 3-acre outdoor garden.
The Butterfly Biosphere opened in 2019. It is Utah's first insectarium. It has a 10,000 square foot area. Here, you can walk among hundreds of exotic butterflies from all over the world.
Ashton Gardens: A Place of Beauty
The gardens first opened in 1997. They were planned by landscape architect Leonard Grassli. The gardens cover about 55 acres. They have 15 different themed areas.
One special area is like the garden from the book The Secret Garden. Other themed areas include a Monet pond and a rose garden. The rose garden has 60 different kinds of roses.
In 2016, the gardens were renamed "Ashton Gardens." This was to honor Alan and Karen Ashton. They helped create and support Thanksgiving Point.
You can also take gardening classes here. These classes teach about things like square foot gardening. Some gardens also show how to save water. The water features in the gardens reuse water.
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Bridge at the Waterfall Amphitheatre
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Trellises in the Rose Garden
Light of the World Garden
The Light of the World Garden is a 2.5-acre garden inside Ashton Gardens. Artist Angela Johnson created and gave it to Thanksgiving Point. It has 35 large bronze sculptures. These sculptures show scenes from the Biblical New Testament about the life of Jesus.
Butterfly Biosphere: A World of Insects
The Butterfly Biosphere is home to many different animals. It has hundreds of types of insects. You can see 20 kinds of tarantulas and large beetles. There are also hundreds of butterflies from around the world.
Some of the insects you might see include Blue Morpho butterflies and Atlas Moths. You might also see Black Widow Spiders and Goliath Beetles. In 2020, a new permanent exhibit opened. It features Leafcutter Ants.
Farm Country: Learn About Farming
Farm Country is a real working farm that visitors can explore. In the summer, a Junior Master Gardener Club helps take care of the garden. They grow vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins.
There are also daily demonstrations of cow milking. You can see traditional farm animals. Wagon rides and pony rides are also available.
Museum of Ancient Life: Dinosaurs and Fossils
The Museum of Ancient Life opened in 2000. Some paleontologists, who study fossils, wanted to build a great dinosaur museum. They worked with Thanksgiving Point to create the exhibits.
This museum has one of the world's largest collections of mounted fossil casts. The goal was to show these fossils in a way that makes you feel like you're traveling back in time. The museum also used to have a large movie theater. It showed science films related to the museum's exhibits.
Museum of Natural Curiosity: Explore and Discover
Thanksgiving Point's Museum of Natural Curiosity opened in May 2014. This museum has five main areas to explore. These include the Rainforest, Waterworks, Kidopolis, and areas for special traveling exhibits. It also has the Discovery Garden.
Discovery Garden: Outdoor Learning
The Discovery Garden is the outdoor part of the Museum of Natural Curiosity. It is designed to teach kids about nature. The garden has two mazes made of hedges. It also has an "eco-pond" and a copy of Timpanogos Cave. The Discovery Garden is also a certified Nature Explore Classroom. It was the first one in Utah.
Classes and Fun Events
Thanksgiving Point offers many classes for kids and adults. You can learn about cooking, caring for animals, and robotics. There are also classes on gardening, fitness, and arts and crafts.
Thanksgiving Point hosts events all year long. For example, there is a spring tulip festival. In the fall, there is a seasonal corn maze. During the holidays, there is a light show called Luminaria. Other seasonal events happen throughout the year.
Many private events are also held here. These include weddings, parties, and company meetings. They use the conference and meeting rooms at Thanksgiving Point.
Other Attractions
Some other places are located at Thanksgiving Point. They are managed by different groups.
Thanksgiving Point Golf Course
The Thanksgiving Point Golf Course is run by a private company. It is the largest public golf course in Utah. It is 7,728 yards long and covers more than 200 acres. Famous golfer Johnny Miller designed the course.
Roots of Humanity Exhibit
Near the Ashton Gardens parking lot, there are plans for the Roots of Humanity Exhibit. This will be an 80-foot building. Its walls will be made only of stained glass. The stained glass will cover more than 11,000 square feet.
