Port Austin Butterfly House

Port Austin Butterfly House and Gardens

Port Austin Butterfly House

The Butterfly House and Gardens give you a chance to see various Michigan species of butterflies up close and personal. The 30×50 netted house and surrounding gardens are beautifully landscaped and many of the plants are identified.

The butterflies are grown and collected in the late spring and raised for the summer season. They are set free to migrate south as the season changes to fall. Visitors can stroll through the inside enclosure to view the butterflies or the surrounding gardens. There are places to sit and quietly view the amazingly entertaining creatures.

A Garden of Ideas for Your House or Cottage

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If you’re a gardener, the Butterfly House and Gardens offer a chance to see which plants are suitable to draw the butterflies into your own garden or yard. In 2017, bees were purchased and the hives were visible nearby.

Port Austin Butterfly House Has Strong Community Support

Port Austin Butterfly House and Gardens

The Port Austin Lions Club adopted the effort to bring the butterfly house to the city. It was completed in 2017 as part of the Lions Club 100-year Anniversary Centennial Project.  Also chipping in with financial help and support was the Huron County Community Foundation, the Village Downtown Development Authority, United Way and the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative.

Future Plans for Tower Park in Port Austin

Port Austin Butterfly House and Gardens
Port Austin’s Tower Park

The Butterfly Garden Project was completed by the local community to utilize a seldom visited park in Port Austin and transform it into a visitor destination. There are future plans for landscaped pollinator and gardens to be established and grow food in the park for donations to local charities and food banks. In 2017, senior landscape architecture students from Michigan State University presented a park and streetscaping plan for the village. The Port Austin city council will consider incorporating those ideas into a master plan for the water tower park.

The Butterfly House and Gardens are located next to the large water tower at the corner of Madison & Adams Street and offer plenty of parking.

  • Fun in Port Austin, the Tip of the Thumb – In Michigan’s greater Detroit area, Port Austin fits the bill. This harbor town is two hours away from Detroit in a straight drive up M-53 to the tip of the Thumb of Michigan.
  • Finding Treasure at Port Austin’s Farmers Market – A beautiful Saturday morning at the Port Austin Farmers Market. One of the largest farmers markets outside of Detroit. It’s pure fun. Great produce, unique crafts and artisans, and fun shopping among many vendors.
  • Capac Museum and Railroad Depot – Situated east of Imlay City, it maintains the vibrant small-town rural charm found in Michigan. The town is located between Port Huron and Flint. The historic railroad depot is also home to one of the finest small-town museums in the region.
  • Day Trip to Cheeseburger in Caseville Festival – Cheeseburger in Caseville is a chance to experience a bit of Key West atmosphere, Jimmy Buffet music and indulge in cheeseburgers in paradise. In prior years, before Covid, officials placed estimates were that over 100,000 people visited the area during its 10 day festival.
  • Port Austin Farm Market on Saturday Mornings – Each Saturday morning during the summer, the Port Austin farm market offers local locally grown produce, crafts and flea market items from all over the thumb. The weekly event is not hard to miss as it’s only a block away from the harbor
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Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. Michael was born in Michigan and grew up near Caseville. In 2009 he started this fun-loving site covering Michigan's Upper Thumb. Since then, he has authored a vast range of content and established a loyal base of 60,000 visitors per month.

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