The Arboretum At Flagstaff

What The Arboretum At Flagstaff does

The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 94-2788812) operating a 200-acre botanical garden at 7,150 feet elevation in Flagstaff, Arizona, focused on the conservation and public education of plants native to the Colorado Plateau. Founded in 1981 by Frances McAllister, the organization maintains 750+ plant species and 130+ recorded bird species across display gardens, greenhouses, wetlands, ponderosa forest, and several miles of trails. It holds ArbNet Level 2 accreditation and operates seasonally from May through October.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified portfolio: daily admission ($14 adult/$8 youth), a tiered membership program (Aster through Penstemon) with reciprocal access to 400+ gardens via the American Horticultural Society, on-site plant nursery and gift shop sales, wedding and event venue rentals (up to 250 guests) operated in exclusive partnership with Holleday Productions, summer day camps ($290–$360/camper), K-8 field trips aligned with Arizona science standards, fee-based guided walks (bird walks, wildflower walks, raptor education), and concerts and festivals including the Mountain Melodies summer series. Donations, including a Ponderosa Society major donor program, supplement earned revenue.

The Arboretum pursues scientific conservation work through partnerships with Northern Arizona University (Merriam-Powell Research Station), USGS, the Center for Plant Conservation (seed banking of rare species including the G1-listed Packera franciscana), and the Southwest Experimental Garden Array (SEGA). The organization is led by Executive Director Nate O'Meara and a nine-person full-time staff, governed by a Board of Directors. Distribution is regional, focused on Northern Arizona, with secondary national reach via the AHS reciprocal network and online merchandise through Bonfire.com.

Name

The Arboretum At Flagstaff

Legal name

The Arboretum at Flagstaff

Website

https://thearb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit botanical garden operating 200 acres at 7,150 feet elevation in Flagstaff, Arizona, dedicated to conserving and educating the public about plants native to the Colorado Plateau. It generates revenue through admissions, memberships, venue rentals, summer camps, and donations, serving regional visitors, schools, and wedding clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden & Nature Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Botanical garden
• Plant conservation
• Native plant nursery
• Environmental education
• Venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Flagstaff

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Daily admission fees for visitors to access the 200-acre arboretum grounds, display gardens, greenhouses, and woodland trails. Adults $14, Youth $8, Children under 5 free, Dogs $2.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership with multiple tiers (Aster Individual, Buttercup Dual, Cliffrose Family, Pinyon Extended Family, Columbine Contributor, Penstemon Patron) providing free admission, guest passes, discounts, and exclusive benefits.
3. Plant Nursery Sales: Sale of locally grown native plants including perennials, wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs adapted to high elevation Northern Arizona gardens.
4. Gift Shop & Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, hats, mugs, water bottles, gnome items, and gifts featuring local artist works.
5. Venue Rentals: Wedding ceremonies, receptions, private events, meetings, retreats, and banquets held at the 200-acre property with San Francisco Peaks backdrop.
6. Summer Camps: Eco Explorers Summer Camps for children ages 5-11, with weekly themes including Wilderness Explorers, Garden Guardians, Birds of a Feather, Weird Plant Science, and Creature Detectives.
7. Educational Field Trips: Docent-led school programs aligned with Arizona K-5 science standards and Next Generation Science Standards for preschool through 8th grade.
8. Events & Programs: Revenue from concerts (Mountain Melodies), festivals, special events, and fee-based programs including bird walks, wildflower walks, and raptor education sessions.
9. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions supporting educational programs, conservation efforts, and general operations. Also includes Ponderosa Society major donor program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200-acre nonprofit botanical garden at 7,150 feet elevation specializing in the conservation, education, and display of plants native to the Colorado Plateau. It operates general admissions, guided nature programs (bird walks, wildflower walks, raptor education), an on-site native plant nursery, summer camps and school field trips, wedding and event venue rentals, gift shop sales, and an annual membership program.

Product overview

The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit botanical garden offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences, educational programs, and conservation initiatives across its 200-acre property at 7,150 feet elevation. The core offering centers on general admission access to display gardens, greenhouses, wetlands, and woodland trails featuring 750+ plant species. Supporting products include guided programs (Bird Walks, Wildflower Walks, Raptor Education, Nature & Science Talks), seasonal events (Mountain Melodies Concerts, Botanical Blacksmiths Exhibit, Special Events), and the Plant Nursery offering native plants. Educational programming encompasses Eco Explorers Summer Camps for children ages 5-11 and school Field Trips aligned with science standards. Revenue-generating venues include Wedding & Event Venue Rental (weddings up to 250 guests, meetings up to 50, banquets up to 200) and a Gift Shop with merchandise. Conservation work focuses on rare plant preservation, native plant research, and invasive species education. The Membership Program provides annual passes with reciprocal benefits at 400+ gardens nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Day passes providing access to the 200-acre Arboretum grounds, including display gardens, greenhouses, wetlands, forests, and several miles of family and pet-friendly trails. Adult $14, Youth $8, Children under 5 free, Dogs $2.
• Membership Program Annual membership with tiers (Aster Individual, Buttercup Dual, Cliffrose Family, Pinyon Extended Family, Columbine Contributor, Penstemon Patron) providing free admission, guest passes, discounts, and reciprocal admission to 400+ gardens nationwide via the American Horticultural Society.
• Bird Walks Guided morning walks led by Dr. Celia Holm to observe 130+ recorded bird species on the grounds, held select Saturdays at 7:30am.
• Wildflower Walks Guided morning walks exploring native Northern Arizona wildflowers, led by Arboretum staff.
• Raptor Education Program Live raptor presentations featuring birds from the International Raptor and Falconry Center, teaching conservation of raptor species worldwide and their ecosystem roles.
• Mountain Melodies Concerts Outdoor summer concert series featuring local and regional musicians held under the pines at sunset.
• Botanical Blacksmiths Exhibit Seasonal art installation of metal garden sculptures available for purchase, with 30% of sales benefiting the Arboretum; runs May through September.
• Plant Nursery & Sales On-site retail nursery selling greenhouse-grown native perennials, wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs adapted to Northern Arizona high-elevation gardens, with two major annual plant sales in July and September.
• Eco Explorers Summer Camps Week-long day camps for children ages 5-11 held Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm, with themes including Wilderness Explorers, Garden Guardians, Birds of a Feather, Weird Plant Science, and Creature Detectives.
• Field Trips Spring and fall school field trips offering place-based learning aligned with Arizona K-5 science standards and Next Generation Science Standards, covering preschool through 8th grade.
• Wedding & Event Venue Rental Wedding ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners for up to 250 guests with San Francisco Peaks backdrop, plus meeting and banquet facilities, produced exclusively with Holleday Productions since 2014.
• Gift Shop On-site and online shop featuring Arboretum-branded merchandise including apparel, hats, mugs, water bottles, books, and works by local artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to over 400 gardens nationwide through reciprocal membership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Holleday ProductionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Exclusive event production partnership for weddings since 2014. Holleday Productions provides event planning, specialty rentals, and artistic floral design services. They customize every package to suit the unique needs of each couple hosting their wedding at The Arb.
• Merriam-Powell Research StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between NAU, USGS, and The Arboretum supporting research, education, and collaboration. The research station offers affordable housing and research facilities to scientists and students conducting field work. Available to educational, scientific, nonprofit, and governmental organizations for day-long or multi-day meetings and workshops. Open March 15 to November 1.
• Southwest Experimental Garden Array (SEGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEGA is an array of highly instrumented field sites spanning a large elevation gradient as an effective proxy for climate change research. The SEGA platform helps researchers explore and quantify ecological/evolutionary responses to changing climate at scales from genes to ecosystems. Includes research sites at The Arb.
• Center for Plant ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPC mission is to safeguard rare plants by advancing science-based conservation practices. The Arb works with CPC for protection and propagation of specific species on the Colorado Plateau including Packera franciscana (G1 listed endangered species) for seed banking at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado.
• International Raptor and Falconry CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona 501c3 nonprofit providing live raptors for educational programs at The Arb. Michelle from IRFC leads raptor education sessions teaching conservation of raptor species worldwide and their place in the ecosystem. Programs are free with regular admission.
• American Horticultural SocietyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal Admissions Program providing Arboretum members free admission to more than 400 gardens nationwide, including the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Members receive a downloadable list of reciprocal gardens.
• Coconino Master GardenersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partnership for plant sales. The Arboretum participates in regional plant sales including the annual Coconino Master Gardeners Plant Sale.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Botanical Garden: One of the largest and most established botanical gardens globally. While at vastly different scale, it represents the upper-bound institutional model for research, education, conservation, and visitor programming that The Arb aspires to.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: Larger established regional botanical garden with a broader plant collection and more extensive programming. Provides a reference point for scaled-up operations, conservatory facilities, and educational reach.
• Morton Arboretum: Major nationally-recognized arboretum outside Chicago. Holds ArbNet accreditation and operates at a scale that illustrates the path for accreditation-driven growth and research-driven programming.
• United States National Arboretum: Federal arboretum operated by USDA with similar plant conservation mission and public garden operations. Useful benchmark for federal partnership models and large-scale conservation programming.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Major nonprofit botanical institution with established Center for Plant Conservation partnership work — relevant comparison given The Arb's collaboration with the same national CPC network.

Regional players

• Santa Fe Botanical Garden: Southwestern nonprofit botanical garden in a comparable high-elevation, arid-climate setting with similar seasonal visitation patterns and educational mission. Comparable audience and operational profile.
• Red Butte Garden: University-affiliated botanical garden in Utah offering similar arboretum-style visitor experiences, educational programs, concerts, and membership at a comparable scale.

Direct peers

• Desert Botanical Garden: Major Phoenix-based botanical garden explicitly named in The Arb's AHS reciprocal admissions network. Operates with similar nonprofit visitor/garden model at much larger scale, providing a relevant scaling benchmark.
• Tucson Botanical Garden: An Arizona-based nonprofit botanical garden with similar public garden operations, educational programming, and membership model. Arboretum's Executive Director previously served as Curator of Horticulture there, making it the closest operational peer.
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum: Arizona's largest botanical garden, also focused on native/desert-adapted plants with educational programming and membership. Closest geographic peer alongside Tucson Botanical Garden and Desert Botanical Garden.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arboretum-at-flagstaff

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Arboretum At Flagstaff