OUR STORY
From a Childhood Passion to a Global Landmark
Butterfly World is the breathtaking result of one man’s lifelong passion taken to extraordinary heights.
Born to Dutch immigrants, founder Ronald Boender grew up on his family’s farm in Illinois, where his fascination with nature first took flight. As a boy, he spent countless hours observing the local wildlife, captivated by the Cabbage Whites, Black Swallowtails, and Silk Moths that filled the fields.
In 1968, Boender relocated to Florida. After a successful career as an electrical engineer, he retired to pursue his passion for lepidoptera, starting modestly by raising native butterflies and host plants in his backyard.
Innovation & Pioneering Science
When Boender discovered a growing demand for farm-raised butterflies among universities and zoos, he turned his passion into a pioneering endeavor. In 1984, he established MetaScience Co., a commercial butterfly farm. The MetaScience team soon produced up to 1,000 butterfly pupae per week and developed groundbreaking rearing techniques that Butterfly World still uses today.
Around the same time, Boender became intrigued by the concept of “butterfly houses”—an emerging trend in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. Determined to explore the concept further, he traveled to England in 1985 and met Clive Farrell, founder of the London Butterfly House. The two quickly formed a friendship and a vision for the future, becoming business partners to create Butterfly World: the first butterfly house in the United States and the largest in the world.
Opening the Gates & Expanding the Experience
On March 28, 1988, Butterfly World officially opened its doors. The initial park spanned acres of lush butterfly aviaries, vibrant botanical gardens, and the dedicated research facility Boender had spent years refining.
Over the decades, the park has continued to flourish and expand. Today, visitors can experience two additional tropical bird aviaries, an interactive Lorikeet Encounter, and a world-class aviculture research and care staff supporting these magnificent species.
Conservation & Legacy
From day one, Butterfly World’s mission has extended far beyond its gates:
- “Bring Back the Butterflies” Campaign: Launched in 1988, this North American initiative aims to educate the public and supply FREE butterfly gardening materials specialized for each region to anyone interested. It sparked a wildly successful continent-wide movement, creating thousands of new butterfly habitats and increasing butterfly populations across North America. You can download your free regional guide here.
- Te Boender Endangered Species Laboratory: Supporting vital off-site research, Boender reinvested park resources and expertise to create this state-of-the-art laboratory at the University of Florida. Working side by side with scientists, Butterfly World has been instrumental in saving the endangered Schaus Swallowtail—helping reestablish the species in South Florida and bringing it closer to recovery.
Today, Butterfly World continues to welcome visitors from around the globe to experience nature’s magic, learn about conservation, and help protect these delicate creatures for generations to come.
Butterfly World!
March 28, 1988
“I just decided I wanted to create something so beautiful that people would come here and say, ‘This must be what heaven is like.'”
-Ron Boender, Founder of Butterfly World
As quoted in the New York Times, January 28, 1990.
