Turtle Bay Exploration Park

What Turtle Bay Exploration Park does

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural and educational institution operating a 300-acre campus in Redding, California, anchored by the Sundial Bridge, the Turtle Bay Museum (with a permanent collection of 35,000+ artworks and historic objects), McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (200+ acres of native and Mediterranean-climate plantings), Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, and the Wildlife Woods animal exhibits (River Tank, Parrot Playhouse, Butterfly House). Programming is built around a positive-reinforcement animal training philosophy and an on-site plant propagation nursery that cultivates drought-tolerant and California native species. The organization serves regional K-12 students (15,000+ field-trip attendees annually from Northern California and beyond), families, tourists staying at the adjacent Sheraton Redding Hotel, and the local community through gallery exhibitions, Discovery Camps, sensory-friendly hours, and homeschool programs.

Name

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Legal name

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Website

https://turtlebay.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 300-acre museum, botanical garden, and wildlife campus in Redding, California, serving Northern California families, K-12 students, and regional visitors through educational programs, exhibitions, and access initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museums and Cultural Attractions

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Cultural attraction management
• Museum exhibition programming
• Botanical garden operations
• Wildlife education programs
• Community event fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Redding

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual and monthly membership programs providing year-round park access, discounts, and reciprocal program benefits
2. Park Admissions: Admission fees to the park and gardens, including discounted rates for children, seniors, and during Discount Day programs
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting educational programming, exhibitions, wildlife care, and campus maintenance
4. Plant and Nursery Sales: Sale of propagated plants including perennials, vegetables, and drought-tolerant species grown on-site at the nursery
5. Event Rentals and Fundraising Events: Venue rentals, auction events, and special events including Brews by the Bridge, Auction, Oktoberfest generating revenue and donations
6. Museum Store and Café: Retail sales at Museum Store and food/beverage at Mosaic Restaurant and Branch House Riverfront Bistro
7. Legacy Giving and Planned Gifts: Heritage Society estate planning vehicles including bequests, retirement assets, life insurance, securities, charitable remainder trusts, and gift annuities

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre non-profit cultural and educational campus in Redding, California, offering an integrated experience that combines a museum (35,000+ permanent collection items and rotating exhibitions), 200+ acre botanical gardens, wildlife exhibits, hands-on education programs, an on-site plant nursery, and signature landmarks including the Sundial Bridge. It sells admissions, memberships, education programming, event venue rentals, retail, food and beverage, and nursery plants, and is funded additionally by tax-deductible donations, sponsorships, and planned giving.

Product overview

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre private non-profit museum and exploration park in Redding, California, offering a unified portfolio of attractions, educational programs, and community access initiatives. The core experience combines the Turtle Bay Museum (with permanent collection of 35,000+ objects and rotating exhibitions), McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (200+ acres of native plantings and display gardens), Wildlife Woods animal exhibits, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, the iconic Sundial Bridge, and an on-site plant nursery. Education programs include school field trips, Discovery Camps, and Saturday programming. The park operates tiered membership and access programs for diverse audiences, and hosts annual fundraising events. The Environmental Resource Building (groundbreaking April 2023) is an upcoming addition featuring classrooms and nursery retail space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Botanical gardens component of the Turtle Bay campus featuring diverse plant collections and landscaping.
• Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp
• River of Turtles

Products and services

• Turtle Bay Museum The main museum on the campus, housing 35,000+ artworks and historic objects, rotating exhibitions, and gallery spaces including the Mosaic Gallery for local artists. Open to general public, school groups, and members.
• McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Over 200 acres of outdoor botanical space featuring native and non-native trees and plants, Mediterranean-climate display gardens, a children's garden, a medicinal garden, and water features. Open to general public and members.
• Wildlife Woods and Animal Exhibits
• Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp
• Sundial Bridge
• Education Programs
• Membership Program
• Special Events and Fundraisers
• Access Programs
• Turtle Bay Nursery
• Museum Store and Food & Beverage
• Environmental Resource Building

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ students and chaperones served annually on field trips
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DataRayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• The Fly ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• Moore and BogenerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• Redding.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• Redding DistributingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• Walker LithominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• Wood's Pest ControlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• McEntire LandscapingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Partner providing employee memberships, event support, and marketing recognition in exchange for partnership contribution
• American Horticultural Society (AHS)coreOthersAffiliation providing Turtle Bay members access to 345+ gardens through AHS Reciprocal Gardens Network
• Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)coreOthersAffiliation providing Turtle Bay members access to 350+ museums and science centers worldwide through ASTC Passport Program
• American Public Gardens Association (APGA)minorOthersProfessional membership association for public gardens
• Zoological Association of America (ZAA)minorOthersProfessional membership association for zoological facilities
• California Museums AssociationminorOthersState museum association for California museums
• California Department of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership for wildlife management and education
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership; some collection artifacts on long-term loan from USFWS
• Shasta Public LibrariescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTest Drive program allowing library cardholders to check out free 7-day family passes to Turtle Bay; free marketing exposure through library system
• Redding Electric Utility (REU)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Discount Day program providing $5/$10 admission rates on first Thursday of each month
• Museums for All / Institute of Museum and Library ServicescoreOthersNational accessibility initiative allowing EBT cardholders $5 admission for up to 4 people
• Sheraton Redding Hotel at Sundial BridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent hotel with Mosaic Gallery exhibiting local art; integrated campus experience with member discounts
• Coleman Fish HatcherycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Chinook salmon Head Start conservation program releasing salmon to Sacramento River
• US BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Test Drive library program making free passes possible

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Sequoia Park Zoo: Small accredited zoo in Eureka, California offering animal exhibits and conservation education, comparable in regional scale and programming mix to Turtle Bay's wildlife and education operations in Northern California.
• Shasta District Fair: Local fairground operator in Redding hosting community events and family attractions, comparable as a Redding-area family entertainment draw competing for similar regional visitation dollars.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Major zoological organization operating the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park with extensive animal exhibits, conservation programming, and memberships — a much larger incumbent that competes for tourism and membership spend on a broader California scale.
• California Academy of Sciences: Major California institution combining natural history museum, aquarium, and education programs — comparable integrated museum/animal/education model operating at much larger scale and serving similar California audiences.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Large public botanical garden with memberships, reciprocal garden network participation, and education programming — directly comparable to McConnell Arboretum in operating model and member benefits structure.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Major aquarium and marine education institution with memberships, animal exhibits, and reciprocal network participation — comparable business model but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic draw.
• The Morton Arboretum: Large outdoor tree-focused botanical garden with memberships, on-site plant propagation, and reciprocal network affiliation — comparable in nursery operations, gardens programming, and membership value structure.

Others

• Redding Electric Utility (REU): Municipal utility that presents and sponsors the Discount Day program; comparable only as a strategic commercial partner underwriting Turtle Bay's access programs rather than as an operational peer.
• Shasta County Library (Shasta Public Libraries): Partner organization hosting the Test Drive library pass program; comparable as a community-driven educational access point distributing Turtle Bay memberships through library cardholder programs.

Direct peers

• Sacramento Zoo: Regional zoological park in Northern California operating animal exhibits and educational programming for families and school groups, directly comparable to Turtle Bay's Wildlife Woods and education segments within the same geographic catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turtle-bay-exploration-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Turtle Bay Exploration Park