Reiman Gardens

State: Iowa. Type: 17-acre public garden owned and operated by Iowa State University in Ames, Story County. Opened September 16, 1995, following a 1993 gift from Bobbi and Roy Reiman. Home to a 2,500-square-foot butterfly wing with up to 800 live butterflies from nearly 80 species. Recognized in 2023 as a 'Top 10 Garden worth traveling for' in North America at the International Garden Tourism Conference.

Reiman Gardens sits immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, occupying a 17-acre site that was once used for grain storage and stadium-berm soil borrowing before it became a garden. Iowa State had maintained smaller horticultural gardens on campus since 1914, but the current gardens opened in 1995 after a gift from ISU alumni Bobbi and Roy Reiman funded a much larger, purpose-built complex. Today the site holds more than 20 distinct garden areas, a 5,000-square-foot conservatory of tropical plants, and the signature Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, an 80-degree tropical enclosure housing hundreds of free-flying butterflies and moths from dozens of species. The Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center and the Marge Hunziker House add event and meeting space, and the gardens run rotating seasonal exhibits, such as an oversized flower-sculpture display, alongside their permanent plant collections. As a university-run public garden, Reiman Gardens combines a teaching and research mission with a family-friendly visitor experience built around themed outdoor gardens, water features, and the indoor butterfly and tropical plant displays.

Reiman Gardens is located at 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011, on the Iowa State University campus immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium in Story County, central Iowa. Because GPS directions can be unreliable for the address, the gardens recommend visitors instead search for the intersection of University Boulevard and South 16th Street.

Ames has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters typical of central Iowa. Because the Butterfly Wing and conservatory are indoor, climate-controlled spaces kept at tropical temperatures, the gardens remain a viable visit in any season, even though the outdoor garden areas are most colorful from late spring through early fall.

Late spring through summer brings the widest range of blooms across the more than 20 outdoor garden areas, and extended hours (until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 1-September 30) allow for evening visits in that period. The indoor Butterfly Wing and conservatory make Reiman Gardens a reasonable destination even in winter, when outdoor plantings are dormant.

Iowa State University has maintained horticultural gardens on campus since 1914, originally located north of The Farm House, then relocated to the northeast corner of campus in 1964. The current site, previously used for grain storage, soil borrowing to build the football stadium berm, and game-day parking, began development as a garden in 1993 after a gift from Bobbi and Roy Reiman. The gardens officially opened to the public on September 16, 1995, and have since grown to include the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, a large conservatory, and the Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center. In 2023, Reiman Gardens was recognized as a 'Top 10 Garden worth traveling for' in North America at the International Garden Tourism Conference.

Visitors can walk through more than 20 themed outdoor garden areas, tour the Sycamore Falls water feature, and step into the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing to see hundreds of free-flying butterflies and moths up close in an 80-degree tropical setting. The 5,000-square-foot conservatory showcases tropical plants year-round, and the gardens periodically host special exhibits, such as a 2026 season display of oversized flower sculptures. The Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center and Marge Hunziker House host programming and events for visitors interested in horticulture education.

Key features include the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, the indoor tropical conservatory, Sycamore Falls, and the more than 20 distinct themed garden spaces spread across the 17-acre site. The Mahlstede Horticulture Learning Center and Marge Hunziker House serve as the gardens' event and programming hubs.

Reiman Gardens sits on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, in central Iowa; sources consulted did not name a specific nearest commercial airport, though Ames is roughly 30-40 minutes from Des Moines by highway (a distance not independently confirmed in the sources fetched, so treat as approximate). Visitors driving in should use the University Boulevard/South 16th Street intersection rather than relying solely on GPS for the posted street address.

As of research, Reiman Gardens was open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Butterfly Wing closing at 4:30 p.m.; extended hours to 8 p.m. apply on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 1 through September 30. Confirm current hours on the official website before visiting, and note that road construction has periodically affected entrance access (the south entrance was closed June 15-July 11, 2026, with the 16th Street entrance used instead).

As of research, general admission was $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65+), and $6 for youth ages 2-12; children under 2, members, and ISU students are admitted free, and military visitors with ID receive a $2 per-person discount. Confirm current pricing on reimangardens.com before visiting.

Most visitors spend one and a half to three hours to see the outdoor gardens, the conservatory, and the Butterfly Wing at a relaxed pace.

Ames, home to Iowa State University, has a range of hotel chains concentrated near campus and along the city's main commercial corridors; sources consulted did not name specific properties, so check current Ames-area hotel listings, particularly around football weekends when the adjacent stadium affects availability and parking.

Ames has a college-town dining scene with a mix of casual and sit-down restaurants near campus and in its downtown area; sources consulted did not name specific restaurants near Reiman Gardens, so check current Ames dining listings.

Jack Trice Stadium sits immediately adjacent to the gardens, and the wider Iowa State University campus, including its other museums and collections, is within easy walking or short driving distance.

Sources consulted did not specify a nearest airport; Ames sits in central Iowa within driving distance of Des Moines. Parking at the gardens is free in Lots S1 and S2 (with S3 available for special events), but no guest parking is available on home football game days due to the stadium's proximity.

Because the Butterfly Wing is a warm, humid, enclosed tropical environment, dress in light layers if heat sensitivity is a concern. Avoid visiting by car on ISU home football game days, since no guest parking is available near the gardens at those times. For any emergency, dial 911.

Light, breathable clothing for the warm Butterfly Wing, comfortable walking shoes for the outdoor garden paths, and a camera for photographing the butterflies and themed gardens are worth packing.

Check the gardens' website before visiting during road construction periods or ISU football weekends, since entrance access and parking availability can change. Take advantage of the extended Tuesday/Thursday evening hours in summer for a cooler, less crowded visit. ISU students and gardens members enter free, which is worth knowing if you have an affiliation with the university.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general visitor questions, Reiman Gardens can be reached at 515-294-2710 or reimangardens@iastate.edu.

Reiman Gardens (Iowa State University) - https://www.reimangardens.com

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.