Tropical butterflies have landed in Colorado. The
Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center just outside of Denver
features scarlet mormons, zebra longwings and more than 100 other
varieties that fly through glass-enclosed buildings. While at least
30 butterfly centers have emerged in the past decade – most of them
associated with zoos – the 7,800-square-foot pavilion is America’s
only nonprofit facility dedicated wholly to butterflies. A
brainchild of the Rocky Mountain Butterfly Consortium, the pavilion
received support from private and corporate donors and the city of
Westminster, which provided the land. When the butterfly mecca
celebrated its first anniversary July 14, some 130,000 lovers of
six-legged creatures had already visited. For more information,
contact the Butterfly Pavilion at 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster,
CO 80020
(303/469-5441).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline If you’re looking for scarlet mormons.
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