Rosie and Goldie the tarantulas are staying put in Westminster for now — and so are the hundreds of beetles, shrimp, fish, crabs, butterflies and other critters that live at the Butterfly Pavilion.
The insect-focused nonprofit zoo has canceled plans to build a state-of-the-art facility and move to Broomfield, citing a difficult economic landscape.
The insect-focused nonprofit zoo had been gearing up since 2018 for the project, which was supposed to be located 10 miles northeast in the Baseline development.
Concept images of the 81,000-square-foot facility showed two massive greenhouse enclosures and exhibits representing a variety of biomes as part of the vision for the space.
That ambitious project is not happening anymore, although the nonprofit is still considering moving to a new location.
“Unfortunately, the business landscape has changed significantly since the project was first proposed in 2018, making that original vision no longer feasible in today’s economy,” a statement from the Butterfly Pavilion acknowledged.
The project was previously expected to cost $55 million, according to the Daily Camera. The non profit had already begun fundraising for the move and its construction, with a goal to break ground in 2024 and open in 2025.
For the time being, the Butterfly Pavilion will stay at its 31,000-square-foot facility in Westminster, just off of Interstate 36. Opened in 1995, it is the “ first standalone … nonprofit invertebrate zoo in the world” to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, according to the zoo.
But, a future move isn’t off the table.
“The Board of Directors is actively seeking a new site for Butterfly Pavilion’s future facility,” a spokesperson said. “We are fully committed to securing a location that aligns with our mission and long-term vision.”
Funds donated to the Broomfield move will be reserved to fund a future expansion. The nonprofit hasn’t said how much it raised, although it had reported having about $2 million committed as of 2022.
