Summer ride hours June 12 through August 1:

Train, Carrousel & Ferris Wheel open Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Flight – A live butterfly experience

Flight – A live butterfly experience is a seasonal habitat.

It will open June 1, 2026, and continue through October 15th, 2026.Flight a live butterfly experience logo

Come to the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park Visit and visit Flight – a live butterfly experience! The over-2,000-square-foot habitat is planted with pollinator-attracting flowers and filled with hundreds of tropical butterflies representing dozens of species from Central, South, and North America. Learn about these winged wonders through educational signage, and study the butterfly life cycle in the nearby emergence window. New butterflies emerge daily, and we encourage visitors to consider membership so they can visit multiple times. This park project was made possible with City of Santa Ana youth benefit improvement funds.

Price

  • Included with zoo membership or purchase of zoo admission.

What to expect

Flight will open June 1, 2026, and continue through October 15th, 2026.

Hours

  • All open times are subject to weather and staffing. For the safety of visitors and staff, Flight will close for all Heat Advisories.
  • Flight is typically open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
  • We recommend you arrive prior to 3 p.m.
  • The Flight habitat is subject to capacity limits. If you arrive after 3 p.m., please stop by Flight to ask staff if there is waitlist availability.

Waitlist

  • The Flight waitlist is typically open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
  • You must add yourself to the Flight waitlist prior to entry.
  • The waitlist QR code is available inside the zoo. We recommend adding yourself when you arrive at the zoo.
  • Enjoy the zoo while you wait, and receive text notification when it is your turn to enter Flight.

Rules

For the safety of the butterflies, Flight has specific rules. Behavior that is unsafe for the butterflies will not be tolerated. Visitors breaking Flight rules will have to exit Flight, or in extreme cases, will have to exit the zoo.

  • You may not touch, pick up, or swat at the butterflies.
  • Children must be accompanied by adults.
  • For groups, there must be at least one adult per every five children.
  • You may not run or stomp in Flight.
  • Food, drinks, strollers, and service animals are not allowed into Flight.
  • Plants and fruit may not be moved, picked, or removed from Flight.

Tips

  • Dress like the flowers – wearing light or bright colors may help attract butterflies.
  • Stand like a tree – sudden movements will cause the butterflies to take flight.
  • Wait for the right weather – butterflies are most active in bright sunshine, but not when it gets too hot.
  • Be ready to take photos – if a butterfly lands on you, it may not stay for long.
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