Which Mackinac Island Butterfly House Should You Visit?

Most visitors come to Mackinac Island expecting horses, fudge, and a long bike ride around the shore. Then they spot something odd on the signs: the island has not one butterfly house but two. They are in different parts of the island, list slightly different prices, and feel quite different once you walk in the door. If you only have a day or two here, picking between them can feel like a guess. This guide covers what each place is, what you see inside, what it costs, and who each one suits best. You can spend your time with the butterflies instead of comparing brochures on a street corner.

Two Butterfly Attractions, Two Very Different Walks

The easiest way to understand the choice is to look at a map. The Original Butterfly House sits near downtown on McGulpin Street. Wings of Mackinac is uphill at Surrey Hill beside a carriage-tour stop. Their locations affect walking effort, transportation, and how each attraction fits into your day. Both can be visited independently, but visitors with limited time may prefer the one that best matches their planned route.

The Original Butterfly House on McGulpin Street

The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House and Insect World is at 6750 McGulpin Street. It is near downtown, but walking time varies by ferry dock, pace, and crowd conditions. A local island resident named Doug Beardsley opened it in 1991. That makes it the first butterfly house of its kind in Michigan and the third oldest live butterfly exhibit in the country. The main garden runs about 1,800 square feet and holds hundreds of live butterflies from four continents. Because it sits in the walkable heart of town, it is an easy stop to add on short notice when the weather turns or a plan falls through.

Wings of Mackinac at Surrey Hill

Wings of Mackinac is an all glass conservatory at Surrey Hill, at 7528 Carriage Road, which is also Second Street. The business started in Mackinaw City in 1997 as a butterfly garden on the mainland. It moved across the water to the island in 2001. Getting there means about a fifteen minute walk uphill from town, a short bike ride, or a stop on the carriage tour route, since the glass house sits right beside the Carriage Tour Museum. The rest of Surrey Hill holds gift shops, food stands, outdoor seating, and the Grand Hotel stables with their antique carriages. The trip up the hill gives you more than one thing to do.

What You Actually See Inside Each One

Both buildings do the same basic thing. They keep a warm tropical room full of free flying butterflies in the middle of a cold northern lake. What differs is the mood and the supporting cast. One leans toward hands-on science and animal encounters. The other leans toward calm, light, and the feeling of standing in a greenhouse full of wings. Reading reviews will not tell you which you prefer, since both earn warm praise. Thinking about what your group enjoys in a museum usually settles it faster than any ranking will.

Butterflies, Plants, and the Feel of the Room

Inside the Original Butterfly House you walk through a thick tropical garden. Staff with science backgrounds move through the room and answer questions as you go. The owner, Robert Gale, and the manager, Ruth St. Onge, have built the place around teaching, and it shows in the small details. Employees will stop and explain what you are looking at. Wings of Mackinac feels airier because the whole building is glass. The plants are set around water features and benches, so you can sit still and let the butterflies come to you. Both rooms are warm and humid, which is a welcome shock on a windy island morning.

Insect World and the Hands-On Side

The Original Butterfly House includes a second attraction called Insect World. Its official information lists more than twenty exhibits of live insects, amphibians, and reptiles, along with a specimen collection curated for more than two decades. The attraction currently advertises scheduled animal encounters at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., plus occasional encounters during the day. Times can change, so confirm the current schedule before visiting. Exhibits may include Pimento the bearded dragon and supervised opportunities to encounter insects.

What It Costs and How Long to Plan For

At the time checked, both attractions list similar general-admission prices. The Original Butterfly House lists adults ages twelve and older at $15, children ages five through eleven at $9.50, and children four and younger as free. Its attached wristband allows return visits during the same island stay. Wings of Mackinac lists adults at $15, children ages five through twelve at $10, and children four and younger as free. It also lists military, veteran, scout, and group rates. Wings can be added to certain carriage-tour tickets. Prices, eligibility rules, operating dates, and packages can change, so check both official websites before visiting.

Choosing the Right One for Your Group

Once you know the layout and the prices, the choice comes down to who you are traveling with and how much walking everyone wants to do. There is no wrong answer here, and guests who stay several nights often see both. For a single visit, though, matching the place to your group saves you that small sting of realizing later that the other one would have suited you better. The groups below cover the cases we hear about most often from guests planning their days.

Families with Young Children

Families interested in insects, reptiles, and scheduled animal encounters may prefer the Original Butterfly House because admission includes Insect World. Its return wristband can also help families divide the visit into shorter sessions. The attraction is near downtown, although walking conditions and distance depend on where the family starts. If you are building a list of child-friendly stops, it pairs well with other family activities beyond Fort Mackinac.

Couples, Photographers, and Quiet Mornings

Visitors seeking a bright glass conservatory with benches, plants, and water features may prefer Wings of Mackinac. Its natural light can also appeal to photographers, although guests should follow current photography rules and avoid disturbing butterflies. Both attractions advertise options for weddings or private events. Contact the venue directly for current availability, capacity, and policies.

Visitors with Limited Time or Mobility

Visitors concerned about hills may find the Original Butterfly House easier to incorporate into a downtown day. Its official website describes the attraction as wheelchair-friendly, but strollers are not permitted inside the garden and must be parked outside. Wings of Mackinac is uphill at Surrey Hill, where visitors can arrive independently or as part of a carriage tour. Confirm accessibility needs, boarding arrangements, and current tour procedures directly before visiting.

How to Fit a Butterfly House into a Busy Island Day

A butterfly house is one of the few island stops that works just as well in sunshine as in a downpour. That makes it an unusually flexible line on a plan. Many guests save it for the hour when the sky opens up and the bike ride falls apart, next to the island’s other reliable rainy day options. Others build it into a wider morning around the stables and the horse-drawn carriage tour. Late summer guests sometimes pair the visit with time spent watching the wild monarch migration pass over the island. Seeing conservatory butterflies and migrating wild monarchs during the same trip can create two very different wildlife experiences.

Conclusion

Whichever butterfly house you choose, an overnight stay gives you more flexibility to visit without rushing around a ferry departure. Inn on Mackinac is on Main Street in the Historic Marina District, just outside the heart of downtown. The Original Butterfly House is nearby, while Wings of Mackinac can be reached uphill or through a carriage-tour stop. Explore rooms and availability at Inn on Mackinac when planning enough time to enjoy one attraction or both.

Category: Mackinac Island