Magic Wings Conservatory is a one-of-a-kind destination for butterfly lovers and nature enthusiasts. Located in Deerfield, Massachusetts, this conservatory is home to thousands of vibrant and exotic butterflies from around the world. Visitors can experience the enchanting beauty of these delicate creatures up close and personal. Upon entering the conservatory, visitors are greeted by a lush tropical rainforest environment. The air is warm and humid, mimicking the natural habitat of the butterflies. The conservatory is filled with a variety of colorful flowers and plants, creating a perfect setting for these winged wonders.
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory
Magic Wings is a huge facility. An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world! We also have exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds & insects to see up close and personal.
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens consists of a glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation. The sun shines through the glass walls and heats up the conservatory to an 80-degree tropical-like environment all year round. The heart-shaped pond with Japanese koi graces the center of the conservatory. The sound of the waterfall, peaceful music and hundreds of butterflies fluttering freely through the air creates a tranquil and serene atmosphere.
Once you’ve paid your admission fee, you enter into our exhibits and display area where butterfly videos are presented. Browse through the various exhibits showing the history and evolution of butterflies. Did you know that butterflies and moths were possibly around during the dinosaur age? Did you know that a butterfly egg is the size of a pin head? Did you know that a caterpillar (also called a larva) eats its egg as soon as it hatches?
Through the double doors lies the conservatory. Your first glimpse is one of awe. Butterflies of all colors, shapes, sizes and varieties go dancing past.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Open 7 days a week, Every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission of the day sold at 4:30 p.m.
Visit the Magic Wings Facebook page to find out more about our latest news, events and promotions!
Magic Wings aflutter with success as Western Mass. tourism destination
There’s just something delightful about butterflies: They are colorful. They are quiet. They flutter about.
For more than 20 years, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens in Deerfield has been hosting visitors who delight to see butterflies from throughout the world.
“I think Magic Wings has been successful for so many years because people love butterflies and nature in general,” said Kathy A. Fiore, general manager and co-owner. “You would literally have to take a trip around the world to see all of the different creatures we have here. Whether it is January or July, you will also find an amazing tropical ecosystem at Magic Wings.”
She noted that there are a handful of butterfly conservatories in the United States, but Magic Wings has more butterflies per square foot than any other.
A butterfly comes in for a landing at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens in Deerfield. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens opened in 2000. Today, it has an 18,400-square-foot facility that includes an 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation.
There are some 4,000 butterflies of all colors, shapes, sizes and varieties. Seventy percent of the butterflies are propagated on-site, while 30%are imported from outside livestock providers.
“When people enter the conservatory, there are many different reactions. Some people tear up, some people are mesmerized, some people laugh,” Fiore said. “Many people believe that butterflies represent growth and change and connect with them in memory of a loved one — ‘When butterflies are near, angels are here.’”
A Rice Paper butterfly stops for a snack at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens in Deerfield. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
Magic Wings is open to the public year-round and welcomes about 90,000 visitors annually.
The sun shines through the glass walls and heats up the conservatory to an 80-degree, tropical-like environment all year. There is a heart-shaped pond with Japanese koi at the center of the conservatory.
There also are exhibits and a display area with videos and exhibits about the history and evolution of butterflies.
Magic Wings has about 10 full-time and 10 part-time employees. Summer can bring three or four more part-timers.
Summer Cleveland of Amherst, a "fllight atendant" at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens in Deerfield, mists plants with water, part of her daily work. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
“Over the past 22 years, we have had generations of families visit us. Many families make it a yearly stop. We try to introduce new and different creatures for people to enjoy,” Fiore said.
In accordance with the state’s COVID-19 regulations, Magic Wings closed its doors to the public on March 17, 2020, and reopened as allowed, fully reopening as of June 8, 2021.
During the shutdown, Magic Wings operated with a core staff of seven employees to maintain the butterfly conservatory and greenhouses.
In order to generate income during the closure, the business utilized its online shopping option on its website magicwings.com; customers placed more than 1,000 orders through the website during the closure.
More than 2 million people have visited Magic Wings over the course of its history. But now Fiore and her brother, George Miller, are currently searching for new owners to take Magic Wings into the future. “Magic Wings’ future is a bright one,” she said.
The business includes a gift shop, food court and several function rooms for hosting weddings, showers, parties and other special events.
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The conservatory is filled with a variety of colorful flowers and plants, creating a perfect setting for these winged wonders. As visitors stroll through the conservatory, they can witness the magical transformation of butterflies. From the first stages of their life cycle as tiny eggs to the remarkable metamorphosis into caterpillars and then into beautiful butterflies, this process is truly awe-inspiring.
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Visit Magic Wings, a Butterfly Sanctuary in South Deerfield
When George Miller was contracted to build a butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield in 1998, he had no idea he was constructing it for himself.
Soon after its opening, Miller took sole ownership of the facility and created one of the most unique destinations in western Massachusetts: Magic Wings.
After Miller passed in 2017, his children took over the operation and have successfully continued his legacy. Connecting Point’s Brian Sullivan traveled to Franklin County to visit this magical butterfly sanctuary and brings us the story.
Learn about some of the other creatures that call Magic Wings home in this digital extra.
This story originally aired on January 13, 2022.
Read the full transcript:
Zydalis Bauer, Connecting Point: When George Miller was contracted to build a butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield in 1998, he had no idea he was constructing it for himself.
Soon after its opening, Miller took sole ownership of Magic Wings and created one of the most unique destinations in western Massachusetts. After his passing in 2017, George’s children took over the operation and have successfully continued his legacy.
Connecting Point’s Brian Sullivan traveled to Franklin County to visit this magical butterfly sanctuary and brings us the story.
Brian Sullivan, Connecting Point: There’s a little stretch of road along Route five in South Deerfield, where whatever season it may be, it’s earmarks are on full display for all those passing through.
This roadside farm stand was shuttered almost as quickly as the first frost’s arrival. Many trees have been stripped bare of their fall foliage, not to return for several months. A tractor rests in seeming suspended animation with nothing left to harvest.
By all indications, it’s late fall in South Deerfield, with winter fast approaching. Unless, of course, we’re inside this building only a few hundred yards away, and here it’s one temperature year round and the countless lepidoptera, or butterflies as us regular folks know them, are living and thriving in it.
Seem too magical to be true? Well, it’s in the name for a reason.
Fred Gagnon, Magic Wings: It’s always summer here. So, we always say instead of going south, go to South Deerfield.
So, we have butterflies flying year-round, rain or shine. We’re temperature controlled, so no matter what the weather is outside, it’s always butterflies flying all day long.
Brian Sullivan: Even the camera lens took a few minutes to adjust to the temperature change, so pardon the steam. But this is the elusive Australian Bird Wing butterfly, one of the largest breeds in the world. And Magic Wings is one of the few places that breeds them in-house.
And, aside from the initial steam, the climate was very nice. Probably best described as a comfortable summer day.
Fred Gagnons: We pretty much mimic the temperature in, like, a tropical rainforest, so the nighttime temperatures are somewhere in the mid-60s to upper-60s, depending on the time of year. The daytime, we shoot for middle-to-upper 70s. But, you know, if the sun comes out, it’s going to be a little bit warmer in there.
It’s always about five to 10 degrees cooler in the summertime because we have a shade cloth to help reduce the temperature a little bit, so it’s not uncomfortable. But in the wintertime, we try to maintain around 75 to 78 degrees
Brian Sullivan: In the conservatory, the butterflies feast on these nectar feeders, and that’s because most of the plants in here are not host plants. The reason for that is they’re not allowed to have the butterflies actually breeding out here.
And that’s a good thing, since caterpillars would destroy the beautiful plant life. Besides, there were already enough butterflies in this room.
How many? The answer is a bit complex.
Fred Gagnon: We raise a lot of butterflies in-house, so we raise about 70 percent of the population. But we import about 70 percent of the diversity, meaning that some of the butterflies we have, we don’t have the host plants for or we can’t breed. S
o, we’ll get five or 10 or 20 in a shipment and we help support farmers and farms in other countries that actually farm butterflies and help save the rainforest, because you need the rainforest to grow butterflies.
So, we probably have about 50 to 60 different species at any given time, and probably about three to four thousand butterflies flying.
Brian Sullivan: The butterflies may receive the lion’s share of the attention, but visitors are also welcome to take a look at some neat reptiles and some exotic creepy crawlies. For some, these are the most interesting creatures on earth, while others may find the quickest exit.
Luckily, this one leads directly to the butterfly conservatory, and for anyone passing through these doors for the first time, the experience is a bit surreal.
Well, I can add this to the list of things I’ve never seen before. Not only that, but in my entire life, I don’t think I’ve ever had a butterfly actually land on me. And just a few minutes ago, I think I had about 10 all over me. It’s really pretty fascinating.
This eight thousand square foot building wasn’t always this big. In fact, when it first opened, it was half this size. It’s also entirely possible that none of this would be here at all, had George Miller not taken this on as a construction project back in 1998 before eventually being talked into partnering in this business.
George passed away in 2017, but his children have since carried on the legacy of this butterfly oasis in South Deerfield.
Fred Gagnon, Magic Wings: It started out with two people, and some things went went awry a little bit in the beginning, and he kind of stepped in. And he pretty much threw a lot of his savings and everything into it, and he believed it was going to become something.
And I bet the family probably thought he was pretty, pretty silly for wanting to go into a butterfly business, but it took off like a rocket. I mean, it did really well, and thanks to the family, they got it moving.
The conservatory provides educational displays and interactive exhibits to teach visitors about the life cycle, behavior, and conservation of butterflies. Visitors can learn about different species of butterflies and their unique characteristics. They can also gain insights into the threats these creatures face in the wild and the importance of preserving their natural habitats. One of the highlights of Magic Wings Conservatory is the butterfly feeding stations. Here, visitors can hold out a small piece of fruit or a sugar-water-soaked sponge for the butterflies to land on and feed. This interactive experience allows visitors to have an up-close encounter with these delicate creatures and marvel at their intricate patterns and graceful flight. The conservatory also offers daily educational programs and guided tours led by knowledgeable staff members. These programs provide in-depth information about butterfly conservation and the efforts being made to protect these creatures in the wild. Visitors can also participate in workshops and special events, such as butterfly releases and butterfly gardening workshops. Magic Wings Conservatory is not just a place for butterfly enthusiasts; it is a sanctuary for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you are looking for a peaceful and serene environment or an educational experience about the wonders of nature, this conservatory is a must-visit destination. The magical world of butterflies awaits you at Magic Wings Conservatory..
Reviews for "A Photographic Journey through Magic Wings Conservatory"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was really disappointed with my visit to Magic Wings Conservatory. The place was extremely crowded and it was difficult to enjoy the beautiful butterflies peacefully. The staff seemed overwhelmed and uninterested in assisting visitors. The condition of the conservatory itself was not up to par, with cracked windows and dirty floors. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and I would not recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 2 stars
My expectations were high for Magic Wings Conservatory, but unfortunately, it fell short. While there were indeed many species of butterflies, the ambiance was lacking. The lighting in the conservatory was too bright, which made it difficult to fully appreciate the beauty of the butterflies. Additionally, there were not enough benches or seating areas for visitors to rest and take in the surroundings. I also expected more educational information about butterflies, but it was limited and scattered throughout the conservatory. It had the potential to be great, but it missed the mark.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I visited Magic Wings Conservatory and left feeling underwhelmed. The place was overcrowded, making it difficult to move around without constantly bumping into other visitors. The heat inside the conservatory was unbearable, and it seemed like the air conditioning was not functioning properly. The lack of ventilation made the experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. Furthermore, the staff appeared disinterested and did not engage with visitors. Overall, I regretted my visit and I would not recommend it to others seeking a serene butterfly-watching experience.