Butterfly House to Close Sertoma Park Site in January

The Sioux Falls facility will shut to the public on January 3, 2027, as operations consolidate at the Great Plains Zoo.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Isometric editorial illustration of a butterfly wing structure made of geometric beams, representing the consolidation of a zoo and butterfly habitat. — The Butterfly House and Aquarium will close its Sertoma Park location on January 3, 2027, consolidating operations at the Great Plains Zoo. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Butterfly House and Aquarium is scheduled to close its doors at Sertoma Park on January 3, 2027. Following the closure, a new butterfly exhibit is set to open at the Great Plains Zoo in February 2027.

Why it matters

The transition is a central component of a $50 million fundraising campaign to consolidate the zoo, butterfly habitat, and future aquarium into a single campus. This effort aims to streamline operations after the organizations officially merged in January 2023.

The organization is working toward a $50 million fundraising goal to support the relocation. The current facility operates with 20 employees and charges an adult admission price of $15.

The players

Butterfly House and Aquarium

This facility has provided butterfly and aquatic exhibits in Sioux Falls since 2002.

Great Plains Zoo

Located in Sioux Falls, the zoo is currently integrating the butterfly and aquarium operations onto its main campus.

The details

While the Sertoma Park site will cease public operations, it will remain active as a staff-only office and quarantine space to support aquarium staff who continue to care for the current collection. Some guest experience staff will transition to new roles at the Great Plains Zoo campus.

The original Butterfly House opened at Sertoma Park in 2002.
Aquariums were added to the site in 2011.
The Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House officially merged in January 2023.
The Sertoma Park facility closes to the public on January 3, 2027.
A new Butterfly Garden will open at the zoo in mid-February 2027.

Market Landscape

The closure follows the January 2023 merger of the Great Plains Zoo and the Butterfly House, extending the consolidation roadmap established by that initial corporate integration. By centralizing attractions, the organization is positioning itself as a unified destination to compete for local entertainment market share.

Visitors should plan to visit the current Sertoma Park location before it closes to the public on January 3, 2027. Following the move, guests will transition to accessing the new Butterfly Garden experience at the Great Plains Zoo.

The takeaway

The relocation serves as a significant milestone in the long-term effort to create a consolidated zoo and aquarium campus in Sioux Falls. Residents can look forward to a new 5,000-square-foot glass-enclosed conservatory when the exhibit reopens at the zoo.