BHA Farewell Season
Honoring 25 Years of wonder
Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium (SFZA) is taking the next step toward a one-campus organization, opening a new butterfly garden experience at the Great Plains Zoo campus in early 2027. Ahead of the opening, SFZA will close its Butterfly House & Aquarium (BHA) campus in Sertoma Park to the public, with the final day on January 3, 2027. Learn more about the closure here.
As SFZA continues to grow, our Monarch membership is growing with us! Starting January 4, 2027, new and existing Monarch members will receive enhanced benefits at the Great Plains Zoo campus. Learn more about these enhanced Monarch membership benefits here.
Join us throughout the Farewell Season as we celebrate 25 incredible years of wonder, discovery, and memories at the Butterfly House & Aquarium. Whether you've visited once or made BHA part of your family's traditions, we invite you to help us celebrate the people, experiences, and memories that have made this place so special to so many.
Featured Experiences & Events
Celebrating Friends, Founders, & Community
Memory Wall Debut
Friday, November 20Take a walk down memory lane as the west "turtle" wall in the Discovery Den transforms into the Farewell Memory Wall! Explore archival articles, photos, and other materials celebrating BHA's history, along with memories and photos submitted by YOU!
Have a favorite BHA memory you'd like to share? Send your digital photos or memories to Info@GPZoo.org, and help us make the Farewell Memory Wall a celebration of the people and experiences that made BHA so special!
The Memory Wall will be available through the end of the year!
Gratitude Tree Debut
Monday, November 23Help us fill our Gratitude Tree with memories! Located in the Discovery Den, our festive tree will feature paper ornaments for guests to write down a favorite BHA memory or share what the Butterfly House & Aquarium means to them. During your next visit, take a moment to add your own message to the tree and help us celebrate all the memories that make BHA so special.
The Gratitude Tree will be available through the end of the year!
Twilight Flights
December 3-5 | 4-6 pmExperience the magic of butterflies at dusk! Join us for Twilight Flight and watch our owl butterflies take to the air during their most active time of day. Owl butterflies are crepuscular, meaning they're most active around dawn and dusk, making this a unique opportunity to see them in action.
We'll be staying open late from 4-6 pm, with 25% off admission beginning at 3:30 pm. Come see the butterflies in a whole new light!
Monarch Member Early Access
December 19-20 | 9-10 am
BHA Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, December 30It's our birthday, and you're invited to celebrate! Join us as we celebrate 25 fantastic years of the Butterfly House & Aquarium with a day full of birthday fun. Stop by for cookies, enjoy birthday-themed activities throughout the day, and help us celebrate the memories, discoveries, and experiences that have made BHA so special.
As a birthday gift to our guests, enjoy 50% off admission all day! We can't think of a better way to celebrate 25 years than with you.
Final Flights
January 2-3One Final Flight in Sertoma Park. Come experience the Butterfly House & Aquarium at its Sertoma Park location one last time. Enjoy special farewell activities, take in the sights and sounds of the conservatory, and make another memory in a place that has meant so much to our community.
As a final thank you to our guests, enjoy 50% off admission! While this chapter comes to a close, the butterflies' journey will continue at our new Butterfly Garden at the Great Plains Zoo campus, with an anticipated opening in February 2027. We look forward to welcoming you to their new home. Come say goodbye to BHA and help us celebrate one final flight!