Roper Mountain Science Center

What Roper Mountain Science Center does

Roper Mountain Science Center is a 501(c)(3)-supported nonprofit science education facility operating under a public-private partnership with Greenville County Schools. Established in 1985 on a 62-acre campus in Greenville, South Carolina, the center delivers standards-aligned STEM programming to approximately 150,000 students annually, including 500–600 daily K-12 field-trip visitors during the school year. Core facilities include the T.C. Hooper Planetarium (360-degree 4K immersive dome), the Charles E. Daniel Observatory (housing the nation's eighth-largest 23-inch refractor telescope), the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building (30,000 sq ft, opened 2021), Harrison Hall of Natural Science, Symmes Hall of Science, the Living History Farm, the Butterfly Garden, and the Dinosaur Adventure Trail.

The revenue model is a hybrid public-philanthropic-comprised-of-multiple-streams structure: (1) operating appropriations from Greenville County Schools and district-level programmatic support; (2) earned revenue from public-program admissions ($7–$10 per ticket across Friday Starry Nights, Summer Adventure, Afternoon Explorations, laser shows, PJs in the Planetarium), tiered family memberships ($60–$1,200 annually with ASTC Passport reciprocity to 300+ science centers), and the Guiding Star financial-assistance program; (3) corporate partnership tiers (Innovator $2,205 to Visionary $18,165) with recognition benefits and facility-rental discounts; (4) fee-for-service Science on Wheels outreach ($150–$400 per session plus mileage); (5) facility rental of the David H. Wilkins Conference Center; and (6) donations and planned giving through the RMSC Association 501(c)(3).

Distribution channels span onsite ticketed public programs, pre-scheduled school field trips, traveling Science on Wheels programs across ten Upstate counties (within a 2.5-hour radius), free virtual learning via Zoom (Live From Roper), 100+ week-long summer camps, scout badge workshops, and corporate event rentals. Marketing relies on the website, a 20,000-subscriber newsletter via Constant Contact, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter), earned regional media coverage (WSPA, Fox Carolina, Greenville News, AP), and an annual Educator Directory distributed to schools.

Name

Roper Mountain Science Center

Legal name

Roper Mountain Science Center

Website

https://ropermountain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roper Mountain Science Center is a 62-acre nonprofit STEM education facility in Greenville, South Carolina, operating as a public-private partnership with Greenville County Schools. It serves ~150,000 K-12 students annually through field trips, Science on Wheels outreach, virtual lessons, and public programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions and Ticket Sales: The center generates revenue through ticket sales for public programs including Friday Starry Nights planetarium shows, Summer Adventure day-time admission, Afternoon Explorations, and special laser shows. Pricing varies by program type and visitor category (adult, child, senior, military).
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership program offering multiple tiers (Family, Teacher's Family, Expanded Family, Expanded Family Plus, Creator, Originator) ranging from $150 to $1,200. Members receive free admission to public programs, discounted special events, and access to ASTC Passport Program with over 300 partner science centers.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The center relies on generous donors through the RMSC Association (501(c)(3) nonprofit). Multiple giving options include general donations, tribute gifts, planned giving, bequests, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and the Guiding Star Program for financial assistance.
4. Community Partners Program: Corporate partnership tiers (Visionary through Innovator) with annual investment levels ranging from $2,500 to $20,000+. Partners receive membership benefits, recognition, and facility rental discounts.
5. Science on Wheels Outreach Fees: Fee-for-service traveling science programs delivered to schools. Programs range from $150-$400 depending on session length, grade level, and program type. Travel fees apply outside Greenville County at $1.00 per round trip mile.
6. Facility Rental: The David H. Wilkins Conference Center is available for corporate functions and events. Community Partners receive facility rental discounts of 5-50% depending on partnership tier.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Roper Mountain Science Center is a 62-acre nonprofit science education facility in Greenville, South Carolina that delivers hands-on STEM learning experiences through public programs, school field trips, traveling outreach, virtual lessons, and summer camps. The center generates revenue through ticketed public admission, annual memberships, school program fees, corporate partnerships, donations, and facility rental, serving approximately 150,000 students and 1,500 campers annually.

Product overview

Roper Mountain Science Center is a 62-acre science education facility operated by Greenville County Schools offering a diverse portfolio of educational products and experiences. The core offerings include public programs (Friday Starry Nights planetarium shows, Summer Adventure, Afternoon Explorations), school field trip programs with learning labs aligned to SC science standards, and the Science on Wheels traveling outreach program. Seasonal offerings include Laser Days of Summer, Holiday Laser Shows, and Halloween Laser Shows. The center operates specialized facilities including the Hooper Planetarium (with 4K projection and 5.1 surround sound), Charles E. Daniel Observatory (housing the eighth largest refractor telescope in the nation), Living History Farm, Environmental Science and Sustainability Building (30,000 sq ft opened 2021), Harrison Hall of Natural Science, and Symmes Hall of Science. Additional programs include over 100 Summer Exploration Camps, professional development through the Science PLUS Institute, virtual lessons via Live From Roper, and scout badge programs. Membership offerings include family memberships with ASTC Passport benefits at 300+ science centers worldwide and the Guiding Star financial assistance program for eligible South Carolina families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Friday Starry Nights Weekly Friday evening public planetarium program featuring full-dome astronomy shows, live sky talks, and virtual roller coaster experiences in the 360-degree 4K Hooper Planetarium, offered year-round for individual ticketed visitors, families, and members.
• Summer Adventure Seasonal daytime public program offering hands-on science activities, live animal encounters, traveling exhibits, and access to all outdoor attractions including the Butterfly Garden and Dinosaur Adventure Trail, open to families and individual visitors during summer months.
• Afternoon Explorations Thursday and Friday afternoon public program (September through May) featuring guided exploration of Harrison Hall, Marine Lab, Living History Farm, Butterfly Garden, and Dinosaur Adventure Trail for families and individual visitors.
• Field Trips and Learning Labs School-day educational programs aligned with South Carolina College and Career Ready Science Standards featuring hands-on STEM learning labs across multiple venues including Symmes Hall, Harrison Hall, Hooper Planetarium, and Living History Farm. Serves K-12 classes from Greenville County Schools (500–600 students daily) and schools across ten Upstate counties.
• Science on Wheels Traveling STEM education programs that bring hands-on science lessons directly to schools, festivals, and community events. Includes grade-specific classroom programs, assembly presentations, portable planetarium dome, and live animal programs within a 2.5-hour travel radius of Greenville. Programs range $150–$400 per session with $1.00/mile travel fees outside Greenville County.
• Summer Exploration Camps Over 100 week-long summer camp sessions for children covering various STEM topics including science themes, outdoor activities, and specialized subjects. Serves approximately 1,500 campers annually with members receiving early registration and a 10% discount.
• Science PLUS Institute Professional development program for South Carolina public school science teachers offering grade-specific hands-on courses with free attendance, materials, recertification credits, and graduate credit options through Furman University ($125/credit hour). Has trained over 6,000 educators since 1993.
• Live From Roper Free virtual lessons delivered via Zoom connecting schools with Roper Mountain science specialists. 30-minute sessions with live demonstrations and Q&A, rotating every four weeks, based on South Carolina and national standards.
• RMSC Annual Membership Annual family and supporting memberships offering free admission to public programs, discounted laser shows, early summer camp registration, and ASTC Passport access to over 300 science centers worldwide. Tiers range from $150 (Teacher's Family) to $1,200 (Originator) annually.
• Guiding Star Financial Assistance Program Financial assistance program offering $60 annual memberships (Family-tier benefits), $5 reduced Summer Adventure admission, and complimentary group rates for SNAP/EBT/WIC-eligible families and nonprofit organizations in South Carolina.
• Community Partners Corporate Program Corporate partnership program offering tiered recognition levels (Innovator $2,205, Adventurer $4,490, Voyager $8,995, Explorer $13,580, Visionary $18,165) with benefits including expanded family memberships, 5–50% facility rental discounts, and recognition across website, newsletter, and social media.
• Holiday Laser Shows Seasonal December planetarium laser light shows featuring holiday music including Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller, priced at $10/adult or child and $5 for members.
• Halloween Laser Shows Special October planetarium laser light shows featuring Halloween-themed music and effects, open to the general public.
• Laser Days of Summer Two-week July program featuring laser light shows set to popular music in the planetarium, scheduled Thursday through Saturday evenings.
• PJs in the Planetarium Morning holiday program where families in pajamas enjoy planetarium shows and hands-on holiday activities, priced at $16/adult or child and $8 for members.
• Scout Programs Specialized programs for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts (Webelos Adventure Pin Workshops) including badge fulfillment for Into the Wild, Into the Woods, and Earth Rocks badges, plus telescope observation nights and troop-level bookings for Animal Habitat Badge support.
• David H. Wilkins Conference Center Rental Conference center facility for meetings, offices, and astronomy classrooms opened in 2003, available for rental for corporate functions, events, and private gatherings. Community Partners receive rental discounts of 5–50% depending on partnership tier.

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RMSC AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983The RMSC Association is the supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has operated since 1983 to support the long-term sustainability of Roper Mountain Science Center through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteering. Managed by a Board of Directors, the Association has raised millions of dollars toward buildings and programs. Partnership includes corporate partners, community foundations, families, and individual donors.
• Greenville County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoper Mountain Science Center is a special facility of Greenville County Schools. The school district provides staff and operating funds while the center serves as the district's primary science education facility, hosting 500-600 students daily for field trips during the school year.
• Greenville County Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Greenville County Public Library to offer limited Summer Adventure/Afternoon Explorations passes available to check out for up to one week.
• Anderson County Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Anderson County Public Library to offer limited Summer Adventure/Afternoon Explorations passes available to check out for up to one week.
• Furman UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides graduate credit (2 credits for 4-day courses, 1 credit for 2-day courses) at $125 per credit hour for Science PLUS Institute participants.
• Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRMSC membership in ASTC Passport Program allows members free admission to over 300 science centers and museums worldwide.
• Greater Greenville Master GardenersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project partners who help maintain the Butterfly Garden, which was certified as a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat in 2002.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Discovery Place: Science and technology center in Charlotte, NC with a planetarium (Discovery Place Nature), hands-on STEM exhibits, and school field trip programs directly comparable to Roper Mountain's portfolio.
• Tellus Science Museum: Regional science museum in Cartersville, Georgia featuring a planetarium, observatory, and hands-on exhibits comparable to Roper Mountain's multi-facility science education model. Similar scale and visitor profile in a neighboring Southeastern state.
• EdVenture Children's Museum: Children's science and learning museum in Columbia, SC with hands-on STEM exhibits and school field trip programming serving the same South Carolina education market as Roper Mountain.
• SciWorks Science Center and Environmental Park: Science center and environmental park in Winston-Salem, NC combining indoor science exhibits with outdoor environmental education, closely mirroring Roper Mountain's Environmental Science and Sustainability Building plus outdoor trail offerings.
• Adventure Science Center: Nashville-based science center featuring a planetarium (Sudekum), hands-on exhibits, and BlueMax flight simulator. Operates a school outreach program analogous to Science on Wheels and serves a similar mid-sized Southeastern market.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center with a planetarium (Buhl), observatory (Henry Buhl Jr.), hands-on exhibits, and a 100+ year operating history. Comparable multi-facility science education model with broader scale and programming.
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History: Larger natural history museum in Atlanta featuring immersive exhibits, an IMAX theater, and outdoor nature experiences. Comparable in combining natural science education with planetarium-adjacent programming but at a larger metropolitan scale.
• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science center featuring a planetarium (PACCAR IMAX), laser dome, hands-on exhibits, and school outreach. Comparable in combining planetarium, observatory, and education programs at a larger scale.
• Museum of Science (Boston): Major science museum with a planetarium (Hayden), hands-on exhibits, and extensive teacher professional development programs. Comparable in delivering curriculum-aligned STEM field trips and educator training at a national scale.

Emerging players

• Lowell Observatory: Historic observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona offering public stargazing programs, science tours, and educational outreach. Comparable to Roper Mountain's Charles E. Daniel Observatory in operating public-facing astronomy education with historic telescope assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ropermountain
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcJqoQAhpAD-AGziWl1S_YQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Roper-Mountain-Science-Center/122160491170641
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ropermountain
• Instagraminstagram.com/ropermountain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Roper Mountain Science Center