Company Profile
Thanksgiving Point Institute
Company Overview
Thanksgiving Point Institute, Inc. (TPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm, garden, and museum complex that draws upon the natural world to cultivate transformative family learning. Founded in 1995 by Alan and Karen Ashton, its five main attractions, spread over two campuses, include Ashton Gardens, Butterfly Biosphere, Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, and Museum of Natural Curiosity. It also operates multiple dining options, event spaces, and gift shops. Each year, more than 2 million guests visit Thanksgiving Point. Thanksgiving Point is located in Lehi, Utah.
Thanksgiving Point is governed by a nine-member board including the CEO as an ex-officio member and has approximately 112 full-time team members and 288 part-time team members. Its pre-COVID FY20 budgeted revenues were $24.8 million with 83% from earned revenue, 13% from private support (founder and other individual donors, foundations, and corporations), and 4% from government support.
Company History
• Farm Country, opened in 1996, is a small working farm that brings understanding about the origins of our complex food supply to urban and suburban families in a working farm environment. Wagon rides, pony rides, lots of farm animals, and programs like the Junior Master Gardener club round out this engaging, interactive, agriculture experience.
• Ashton Gardens, opened in 2000, is a 50-acre estate garden with a variety of themed gardens including the Secret Garden, Parterre Garden, and Light of the World Garden, a sculpture garden including 35 monumental size bronze sculptures portraying the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. Ashton Gardens is home to the annual Tulip Festival, Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Garden of Quilts, and Luminaria, a magical holiday spectacular.
• Museum of Ancient Life, opened in 2000, is a natural history museum that draws guests back through time as they tour five exhibit halls showcasing 60 fully articulated dinosaur fossils and 50 interactive exhibits in every geological time period.
• Museum of Natural Curiosity, opened in 2014, combines the best of science centers and children’s museums and engages guests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical thinking and problem-solving activities. Four indoor galleries include Rainforest, Water Works, Kidopolis, and the Innovation Gallery. The fifth gallery, the 5-acre Discovery Garden, includes Archimedes Playground, Nature Explore Classroom, and Art and Exploration spaces.
• Butterfly Biosphere, opened in 2019, is a life science discovery center for children and adults sharing the large impact of the world’s smallest creatures. The Conservatory is a year-round nature experience in a rainforest environment and features thousands of butterflies from around the world. Throughout the Biosphere in the Discovery Zone, Costa Rica Climber, and Invertebrate Adventures are interactive exhibits, terrariums, and insects, spiders, leaf-cutter ants, and other invertebrates from across the globe.