Texas Discovery Gardens

Texas Discovery Gardens is a 7.5 acre native garden that includes the Sammons 2-story indoor butterfly house and insectarium, a snake and reptile house, a huge Axolotl tank in the lobby, an outdoor playscape area and even garden trains. As a 501c3, TDG, in partnership with the City of Dallas, has served the Dallas and North Texas Community at Fair Park in the heart of Dallas since 1936. With varied native gardens, fountains and ponds, there's something for everyone. Bring your lunch and have a picnic in the garden of your choice. The Grand Hall is perfect for holding a wedding or corporate event. Or have a birthday party in one of our party locations, both indoor and outdoor. The Grand Allee with the spectacular fountain in the background is the perfect location for a wedding or special event. In the Sammons Butterfly House, you'll wind your way down a walkway through tropical fauna while hundreds of colorful butterflies from all over the world fly around you. Children discover the natural world through classes, tours and interactive talks. Whether they see a giant Atlas Moth up close during one of our daily butterfly releases, sign up for a week-long summer camp, or participate in hands-on programming through a class, they leave with a better appreciation of the world around them. Free up-close parking is always available (except during the State Fair of Texas). Become a TDG member, come all year round, and receive free State Fair passes with your membership.

Can you recall the first time you got to touch a snake, feeling its cool, dry scales? Or the first time you saw a butterfly flying in your backyard, close enough to touch? With every visit, we're creating experiences that are remembered into adulthood.

At Texas Discovery Gardens our motto is "Discover! Explore, Experience, Entertain and Educate." There's something for everyone at Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park.

In our greenhouse and nursery facilities we grow native Texas plants and hold 4-6 plant sales annually. Specializing in pollinator plants and native species, butterflies love our plants. You'll find many plants that are not only suited for our area, but at prices that are affordable. Your purchases help support our operations and needs.

Our Needs

We are currently in need of funds to help us maintain our gardens and facilities, to support our education programs, and to continue expanding our offerings to the community. We have partnerships with many area schools, both public, private, charter and home schoolers, to provide an opportunity to expand their learning opportunities. Support to fund additional Tier 1 students is always needed.