There is a moment, maybe thirty seconds after you push open the second set of doors into the conservatory, when a Monarch butterfly lands on your shoulder and you completely forget whatever was stressing you out that morning. That is the Reiman Gardens Butterfly Wing effect, and it is absolutely real.
Reiman Gardens sits on the edge of the Iowa State University campus in Ames — yes, technically a short drive north of Des Moines, but at barely 35 miles up Interstate 35 it belongs squarely in any Des Moines-area itinerary worth its salt. For city visitors looking for a half-day escape that delivers something genuinely extraordinary, this is the trip to make.
The centerpiece is the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, one of the largest indoor butterfly gardens in the United States. The soaring glass structure houses a lush tropical ecosystem where temperatures hover in the pleasant low 80s year-round, which feels like a gift on a January afternoon in Iowa. Inside, over 600 free-flying butterflies from dozens of species drift through the air around you — Blue Morphos flash that impossible iridescent color, Giant Swallowtails negotiate the passionflower vines, and tiny Julias cluster near the nectar stations like regulars at a good coffee counter.
What makes this place feel different from a typical zoo exhibit is the intimacy of it. The path winds through banana trees, hibiscus, and cascading water features, and the butterflies treat you as part of the scenery rather than an intrusion. Children absolutely lose their minds here in the best possible way, but honestly, so do adults. Bring a camera with a decent macro setting and plan to use it.
Beyond the butterfly wing, the broader gardens sprawl across 17 acres with themed outdoor spaces worth exploring in the warmer months — a stunning rose garden, a children’s garden full of whimsy, and seasonal display beds that the horticulture staff clearly takes personal pride in. The facility also maintains a small but engaging insect zoo if you want to understand the science behind what you are seeing in the conservatory.
Admission is modest and family-friendly, the staff are knowledgeable without being overbearing, and there is a small gift shop where you will inevitably buy something butterfly-themed that you did not know you needed. The gardens are open year-round, which matters in a state where winter can feel relentless.
If you are mapping out a Des Moines weekend and looking for that one experience people will actually talk about afterward, put Reiman Gardens on the list. It earns its reputation every single time the doors open.
