The Gardens on Spring Creek — Attraction in Fort Collins

We went the the Grand Opening of the Butterfly Pavillion, which also happened to be our first trip to the Gardens themself. Its winter so I expected most of the dormant plants in the surrounding areas of the garden, which I am sure make for beautiful scenery come the growth season. However, when I found out how much my husband had paid for the entrance fee to the Butterfly exhibit, I have to admit, it is very steep- $11 a person for our family of 4. That's more than movie tickets, an experience that gives hours of entertainment. I prefer nature over TV anyday, but not at that price point, maybe for an annual pass to the Garden I could possibly see the value in that. I'm not saying it wasn't a pleasant 10 minutes watching the butterflies and reading the names of the tropical plants, but the high price of admission certainly put a damper on the experience. The price is so steep, that I wouldn't return with family or relatives when they visit. I'd feel bad for making them spend so much on such a brief visual stimulation. Truly, I'd expect admission to be somewhere in the $4-5 range, but $11 a person puts a bad taste in my mouth. I really don't believe that we would come back unless that price drops. This review is coming from an avid gardener, environmentalist, and great appreciater of all things...

We took my toddler daughter here to see the butterfly house. I found this place online and it seemed to have decent reviews so we thought this would be a good place for her to explore her new found love butterflies/moths. The admission fee for the 3 of us was 30.00 dollars. It didn’t seem super expensive. However, it was super expensive for the ridiculous 15 minutes you get to see the butterflies. It felt rushed and almost overwhelming with someone constantly standing over you. (I would like to add that my toddler was very well behaved.) Now, I could understand the 15 minute time frame if they were busy. However, they weren’t! It was just us three in the butterfly enclosure and when they said we had to leave for the next party.. it was ONE PERSON! I wasn’t very happy with the money I spent to be rushed along and then kicked out. There is a nice garden area you can walk though… however, it’s not in bloom right now so we just kinda felt like we wasted 30.00. I am giving it two stars because the front desk staff was pleasant and the gift shop was kinda cute. I don’t think we will be back. I will go down to the butterfly house closer to Denver for basically the same price. If you are looking for something very very simple and you don’t mind overpaying for being rushed this might be what you are...

The Gardens on Spring Creek is such a peaceful, well-maintained gem in Fort Collins. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, it’s worth spending time wandering through the different garden areas—they do an amazing job showcasing native plants and sustainable landscaping. The layout makes it easy to explore at your own pace, and there’s always something new blooming depending on the season.

I love how they’ve created little themed areas like the rock garden, the butterfly house, and the children’s garden. The butterfly house in particular is really special—it’s small, but beautiful and surprisingly calming. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into making this place both educational and enjoyable.

They also host great community events and plant sales throughout the year, and it’s clear they’re passionate about connecting people to nature. It’s not a huge space, but they make the most of it and the whole place feels really intentional.

If you’re looking for a quiet, affordable way to spend an hour or two outside, especially during spring and summer, I’d definitely recommend checking it out. It’s a great spot for a casual stroll, a little inspiration for your own garden, or just a moment of calm in the middle...