Minnetrista

What Minnetrista does

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution headquartered on a 40-acre campus at 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway in Muncie, Indiana, founded in 1988. It operates a year-round museum, gardens, and historic site anchored by three permanent attractions: the Bob Ross Experience (located in the actual L.L. Ball Home where The Joy of Painting was filmed), the Oakhurst Experience (an interactive exhibition on the Ball family), and rotating gallery exhibits in the Center Building. The Freedom Bus, a mobile civil rights museum launched October 2025 in partnership with the MLK Dream Team and Ball State University, extends programming beyond the campus. The institution serves families with children, school groups, art and history enthusiasts, seniors, and corporate partners across a 7-county East Central Indiana service region.

The institution generates revenue through a mixed model combining unit-priced admissions ($15 non-resident adult; $8 local resident with discounts for students from Ball State, Taylor, Anderson, Indiana Wesleyan, and Ivy Tech), subscription-style annual memberships (Museums for All at $5/year for 7-county residents plus Local Access, Explorer, and Premier tiers), unit-priced Bob Ross painting workshops ($75), The Orchard Shop retail (gifts, books, Bob Ross merchandise, local artisan goods), facility rentals and group tours, and donations/corporate partnerships. Recent institutional funding includes a $2,775,000 grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation (November 2024). Marketing relies on a community-led GTM combining its website, email newsletters via Wordfly, social media, press releases, and partnerships with local schools and Ball State University.

Operationally, Minnetrista employs 51-100 staff and adopted a dual leadership structure effective January 2026 with Brian Statz as Chief Executive Officer and Lindsey Horan as President. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees. Strategic direction is articulated through a public 5-Year Strategic Plan Framework (2024). The institution has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds beyond the Ball Brothers Foundation grant; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Minnetrista

Legal name

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens

Website

https://minnetrista.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 40-acre cultural campus in Muncie, Indiana. It serves East Central Indiana families, schools, seniors, and visitors with permanent exhibitions, gardens, programming, and a 2025-launched mobile civil rights museum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Museum and Gardens Services

NAICS

Museums (71211), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH), Art Museums (THAJADAA)

Keywords

• Museum exhibitions
• Heritage collections
• Educational programs
• Public gardens
• Cultural institution

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Revenue from selling tickets to exhibitions and experiences including the Bob Ross Experience, Oakhurst Experience, and rotating gallery exhibitions. One affordable ticket price includes access to all exhibit experiences on campus.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs including Museums for All ($5 for 7-county residents), Local Access, Explorer, and Premier levels providing unlimited visits, discounts at The Orchard Shop, and exclusive benefits.
3. The Orchard Shop Retail: On-site gift shop selling Bob Ross merchandise, local artisan goods, books, food products, apparel, and specialty items.
4. Painting Workshops: Bob Ross painting workshops taught by Certified Ross Instructors in the building where The Joy of Painting was filmed. Additional workshop fees beyond general admission.
5. Facility Rentals and Tours: Group tour bookings, facility rentals for events, and private programming opportunities.
6. Donations and Corporate Support: Individual donations, corporate partnerships, and foundation support for programming and maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens operates a 40-acre cultural campus offering permanent exhibitions (Bob Ross Experience, Oakhurst Experience, rotating Gallery Exhibits), the Freedom Bus mobile civil rights museum, hands-on Bob Ross Painting Workshops, a public Gardens & Nature Area, seasonal community events (Farmers Market, Fourth of July, Garden Fair, Enchanted Luminaria Walk), group tours, an on-site gift shop (The Orchard Shop), and annual membership programs. The institution preserves Ball family and Delaware County heritage while serving as a year-round educational and recreational destination for families, school groups, art enthusiasts, seniors, and tourists.

Product overview

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens operates as a single-site cultural institution offering multiple interconnected exhibitions and experiences on its 40-acre campus in Muncie, Indiana. The core portfolio consists of three permanent exhibitions: the Bob Ross Experience (housed in the L.L. Ball Home), the Oakhurst Experience (in the Oakhurst Home), and rotating Gallery Exhibits in the Center Building. Additional offerings include the Freedom Bus mobile civil rights museum, Bob Ross Painting Workshops, The Orchard Shop retail store, gardens and nature areas, and seasonal events like Farmers Market, Fourth of July, and holiday celebrations. The institution offers membership programs at various price points and group tour services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Orchard Shop: On-site gift shop offering local artisan goods, Bob Ross merchandise, books, food items, and souvenirs.
• Bob Ross Experience
• Oakhurst Experience
• Freedom Bus

Products and services

• Bob Ross Experience An immersive permanent exhibition located in the L.L. Ball Home where The Joy of Painting was filmed, featuring original Bob Ross paintings and artifacts, and offering painting workshops led by Certified Ross Instructors. Aimed at Bob Ross fans, art hobbyists, and cultural tourists.
• Oakhurst Experience An interactive permanent exhibition in the Oakhurst Home telling the story of the George and Frances Ball family through the eyes of their daughter Elisabeth 'Betty' Ball, featuring literacy themes, home food preservation, nature, and board games. Aimed at families, school groups, and heritage enthusiasts.
• Gallery Exhibits A rotating schedule of diverse exhibitions in six gallery spaces featuring art, history, and interactive experiences in the Center Building. Targeted at general museum visitors, art enthusiasts, and school groups.
• Freedom Bus A mobile civil rights museum housed in a former Muncie Indiana Transit System bus, sharing stories of East Central Indiana's role in the civil rights movement and operated in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team, Ball State University, City of Muncie, and Muncie Human Rights Commission. Aimed at East Central Indiana residents, schools, and community organizations.
• Bob Ross Painting Workshops Hands-on painting classes teaching Bob Ross's signature wet-on-wet technique, held in the L.L. Ball Home studio with Certified Ross Instructors. Priced at $75 per person for ages 14 and up; member discounts apply. Aimed at art hobbyists, Bob Ross fans, and adult learners.
• The Orchard Shop On-site retail gift shop at Minnetrista offering Bob Ross merchandise, local artisan goods, books, food products, apparel, and Minnetrista-branded specialty items. Open Wednesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Members receive a 10% discount. Aimed at museum visitors, Bob Ross fans, and tourists.
• Gardens & Nature Area A 40-acre public campus featuring beautiful gardens, nature trails, children's play areas, and a portion of the White River Greenway, open to the public year-round as part of admission. Aimed at families, nature enthusiasts, and casual visitors.
• Farmers Market An outdoor and indoor seasonal farmers market featuring local produce, handmade goods, and family-friendly activities hosted at the Minnetrista campus. Aimed at local families, food enthusiasts, and artisan shoppers.
• Heritage Collection Museum collection preserving artifacts, photographs, and archival materials related to the Ball family and Delaware County history, supporting research, exhibitions, and educational programming. Aimed at researchers, educators, and heritage visitors.
• Membership Programs Affordable annual membership tiers including Museums for All ($5/year for 7-county service region residents), Local Access, Explorer, and Premier levels, providing unlimited free admission, Orchard Shop discounts, exclusive benefits, and digital Columns Magazine subscription. Aimed at local families, frequent visitors, and supporters.
• Group Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-acre campus with gardens, nature area, museum facility, and historic homes open year-round
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Red-tail Land ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Partner for Open Space: Art About the Land annual juried competition, which highlights artistic innovation and supports conservation efforts. A portion of proceeds benefit Red-tail's mission to preserve and restore wildlife habitats and Indiana's natural beauty.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Project partner for the Freedom Bus mobile civil rights museum. The MLK Dream Team is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to keeping Dr. King's 'dream' alive through community-based programming that promotes civil rights education. They lead the initiative to transform a former transit bus into a mobile civil rights museum.
• Ball State University - Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative InquirycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Academic partner for the Freedom Bus project, providing research and creative inquiry support through Ball State University's Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry.
• City of MunciecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Municipal partner for the Freedom Bus mobile civil rights museum, supporting the initiative to bring civil rights education to East Central Indiana.
• Muncie Human Rights CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Partner for the Freedom Bus project, bringing civil rights education and community dialogue to East Central Indiana residents.
• Delaware County Invasive Plant ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the annual Community Seed Swap & Giveaway event, supporting local gardening and environmental initiatives.
• Master Gardeners of Delaware CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the annual Community Seed Swap & Giveaway event.
• East Central Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the annual Community Seed Swap & Giveaway event.
• DeFur VoranminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenter sponsor for the Ball Stores exhibition at Minnetrista.
• eKeeper SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for the Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking! exhibition and Ball Stores exhibition.
• VASEY Commercial Facility SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for America at 250: Reflections on Community and America at 250: Celebrating Hoosier Spirit exhibitions.
• Meeks Mortuary & CrematoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for America at 250 exhibitions and sponsor of Senior Days programming. Meeks Mortuary has been a long-time supporter of Minnetrista since 1988, with the oldest business in Delaware County celebrating 180 years in 2024.
• LifeStream ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Senior Day programming at Minnetrista, presenting special days of free admission and exclusive programming for seniors.
• Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass at Ball State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Imagine in Glass exhibition, transforming children's artwork into stunning glass sculptures through collaboration between youthful imagination and professional craftsmanship.
• Ball State PBSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host partner for Bob Ross Fest event with Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.
• Minnesota Children's MuseumminorOthersCreator/exhibitor of Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking! exhibition. WALLACE & GROMIT characters and logos are trademarks of Aardman Animations Ltd.
• Meridian Health ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport sponsor for the Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking! exhibition.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conner Prairie: Indiana-based nonprofit interactive history park in Fishers with museum exhibits, historic homes, gardens, and nature areas on a large campus — the closest direct analog in terms of scale, mission, and regional museum-plus-outdoor-experience model.
• Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art): Indianapolis-based museum complex that combines art galleries with extensive gardens (Lilly Pavilion, Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park) — directly comparable 'museum + gardens' operating model with rotating exhibitions and educational programming.
• The Henry Ford: Dearborn, Michigan museum complex combining historic homes, specialty exhibits, and educational programming across a large campus — comparable in providing multiple themed experiences under one ticket with deep heritage collection assets.
• Old Sturbridge Village: Living history museum in Massachusetts featuring multiple historic homes, gardens, and immersive heritage interpretation — directly comparable in presenting historic buildings as exhibition spaces with educational programming and events.
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Grand Rapids, Michigan nonprofit combining botanical gardens, sculpture park, and rotating indoor exhibits — comparable in operating a hybrid garden-plus-museum campus with ticketed admissions, memberships, and event programming.
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Nashville-based specialty museum built around the legacy of a single iconic cultural figure with original artifacts, immersive exhibits, and educational programming — the closest analog to Minnetrista's Bob Ross Experience model of monetizing a single celebrity's authentic site.
• Genesee Country Village & Museum: New York State living history museum with multiple historic buildings, gardens, and educational programming on a large campus — comparable in presenting historic homes as exhibit venues and operating seasonal event programming.

Broad incumbents

• The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Largest children's museum in the world and the dominant family/educational attraction in Indiana — competes for family visitation, school field trips, and donor dollars across the same Indiana catchment as Minnetrista.

Regional players

• Indiana State Museum: State-level museum in Indianapolis covering Indiana heritage, history, and culture — comparable in operating as a heritage-focused museum with rotating exhibits and educational programming within Indiana.
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art: Indianapolis-based museum combining art, cultural artifacts, and educational programming on a focused specialty — comparable in operating as a themed specialty museum within Indiana's broader cultural ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/minnetrista
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnetrista

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnetrista