Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

What Cheyenne Botanic Gardens does

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a municipal public garden established in 1977 and operated as a division of the City of Cheyenne Recreation and Events Department, with advocacy and fundraising supported by the Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Foundation. The organization occupies a 9-acre main campus at 710 S. Lions Park Drive in Cheyenne, Wyoming, anchored by the three-story Shane Smith Grand Conservatory and complemented by the LEED Platinum-certified three-quarter-acre Paul Smith Children's Village. Operations extend to the 877-acre proposed High Plains Arboretum at 8601 Hildreth Road, a historic arboretum sharing property with a USDA Research Center and containing more than 6,000 historic trees documented in a 2024 inventory conducted with the Laramie County Conservation District and Wyoming State Forestry Division.

The gardens offer free public admission and generate revenue through seven tiers of annual memberships ($35-$1,000), private-event and wedding venue rentals ($100-$1,800 per booking), community garden plot rentals at $50/year per ~220 sq ft plot, photography permits, $50/class school field trips, workshops, and the Tilted Tulip Gift Shop in the Conservatory lobby. Customer segments span general public visitors, K-12 school groups, event planners, community gardeners, families, and donors/sponsors. The E.A.T. (Education, Agriculture, and Trial) Garden broke ground on May 20, 2026 with target completion December 2026, adding urban agriculture, food insecurity relief, and climate-resilient plant trials to the program mix.

The technology stack is fundamentally physical and horticultural rather than digital: a photovoltaic system generating 40-50% of electricity with battery backup, a vertical-axis wind turbine, grey water irrigation, solar-powered well pumping, and a LEED Platinum facility design. Distribution is direct and place-based at the Cheyenne campus, supported by organic social media, an email newsletter, a gardening-tips content library, and short-form horticulture videos. No AI, API, or software platform offerings are disclosed; the gardens participate in the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program with 300+ partner botanical gardens across North America and the Cayman Islands.

Name

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

Legal name

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

Website

https://botanic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a municipal public garden in Cheyenne, Wyoming that provides free admission to nine acres of gardens, a tropical conservatory, a LEED Platinum children's village, and a historic arboretum, generating revenue through memberships, event rentals, field trips, and donations for community visitors, schools, and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Garden and Horticultural Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Public garden services
• Horticultural education
• Community garden plots
• Botanical event venues
• Membership garden programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheyenne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Rentals: Rental fees for private events including weddings, corporate events, showers, celebrations, proposals, photography sessions, and space rentals. Includes various indoor and outdoor venues with different pricing tiers.
2. Memberships: Annual membership fees ranging from $35 to $1,000 at various tiers including Individual, Couple, Family, Patron, Business Circle, Partner, and Director's Circle levels.
3. Donations: Monetary donations from supporters, sponsors, and charitable giving including memorial pavers, engraved bricks, and general fund contributions.
4. Gift Shop Sales: Tilted Tulip Gift Shop located in Grand Conservatory lobby selling puppets, local soaps and candles, books, and plants grown at the Gardens.
5. Community Garden Rentals: Public rental of community garden plots at approximately 220 square feet for $50 per year, providing gardening space to Cheyenne residents.
6. Photography Permits: Fees for indoor photography reservations and yearly permits for staged photography sessions inside the conservatory.
7. Educational Programs: Field trip fees at $50 per class for school groups, educational workshops and classes for children and adults.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a public municipal botanical garden offering free admission to nine acres of curated landscapes and the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory, plus venue rentals, community garden plot rentals, educational field trip programs, photography permits, gift shop merchandise, and annual membership subscriptions. The gardens operate as a division of the City of Cheyenne Recreation and Events Department, with revenue generated through memberships, event rentals, donations, gift shop sales, photography permits, and educational programming. The Paul Smith Children's Village is a LEED Platinum-certified interactive children's garden, and the High Plains Arboretum preserves over 6,000 historic trees on 2,139 acres of property.

Product overview

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a public botanical garden and community attraction offering a diverse portfolio of experiences centered around horticulture, education, and community engagement. The core offering includes the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory (a three-story tropical plant conservatory with orangerie, bonsai house, fairy garden, and orchid collection) and the Paul Smith Children's Village (a LEED Platinum-certified interactive children's garden). Supporting offerings include community garden plots for rent, the High Plains Arboretum, the developing E.A.T. Garden (Education, Agriculture, and Trial), event venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, field trip programs, a gift shop (Tilted Tulip), membership and volunteer programs, and educational content through gardening tips and video tutorials. The gardens span nine acres of award-winning landscapes and maintain a commitment to sustainability through solar energy, water conservation, and horticultural practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shane Smith Grand Conservatory: The three-story grand centerpiece of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens featuring a lush tropical plant collection, Baroque-style orangerie, bonsai house, and rooftop space.
• Paul Smith Children's Village
• High Plains Arboretum
• Tilted Tulip Gift Shop
• E.A.T. Garden

Products and services

• Shane Smith Grand Conservatory The three-story main centerpiece conservatory of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens featuring a lush tropical plant collection, an elegant Baroque-style orangerie with citrus trees, a special bonsai house on the third-floor balcony, a fairy garden, orchid collection, water garden with koi, and a succulent/cactus conservatory. Open to the public at no charge during operating hours.
• Paul Smith Children's Village A LEED Platinum-certified three-quarter-acre interactive children's garden featuring wetlands, gravity-powered waterworks, farmer's windmill, Archimedes' screw, tipis, green-roofed doghouse, vegetable garden, secret garden, puppet theater, historic sheep wagon, orchard, and a geodesic dome. Free admission, teaches sustainability concepts from past, present, and future.
• Event Spaces and Venue Rental Private event venue rentals including Orangerie ($1,200-$1,800), Solar Patio ($800-$1,200), Cottonwood Grove ($650/3hrs, 300 cap), Orangerie ($500/2hrs, 80 cap), Observation Deck ($475/2hrs, 100 cap), Solar Patio ($475/2hrs), Peace Garden ($400/3hrs), The Glade ($400/3hrs, 150 cap), Conservatory ($300/2hrs, 20 cap or $125/hr), Perennial Garden Gazebo ($100/3hrs), and Lily Pond ($100/3hrs, 25 cap) for private events, weddings, corporate events, showers, celebrations, and proposals.
• Community Garden Plots Public rental garden plots in the North Community Garden offering approximately 220 square foot plots for $50 per year. Includes access to shared tools, hoses, fertilizer, and program facilitation. Targeted to Cheyenne residents seeking garden space for growing produce and flowers.
• Field Trips and Educational Programs 45-minute science curriculum field trip classes for school groups at $50 per class with approximately 42 student capacity. Covers Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth Science topics across various grade levels.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership subscriptions with seven tiers ranging from $35 (Individual) to $1,000 (Director's Circle). Members receive 10% gift shop discount, discounts on educational programs and event rentals, and free admission benefits at 300+ partner botanical gardens, arboreta, and conservatories in North America and the Cayman Islands through the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program.
• Tilted Tulip Gift Shop Physical retail gift shop located in the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory lobby offering unique gift items including puppets, local soaps and candles, books, and plants grown at the Gardens. Members receive a 10% discount on purchases.
• Photography Permits Indoor photography permit services covering senior portraits, weddings, engagements, maternity, family, prom, and graduation photos inside the Conservatory. Rates: $15/hour (3 people), $30/hour (4-10 people), $75/hour (11-30 people), or $150 yearly permit. Reservations required 2 weeks in advance, available Tuesday-Saturday 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Outdoor photography is free.
• High Plains Arboretum A historic arboretum located at 8601 Hildreth Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009, sharing property with the National Cemetery and USDA Research Center. Features over 6,000 historic trees across 2,139 acres of land dedicated to preserving and restoring hardy trees, shrubs, and flowers for Wyoming's climate-challenged prairies.
• Gardens and Grounds Access Free public access to nine acres of award-winning perennial and annual landscapes including Peace Garden, year-round vegetable garden, xeriscape, rose, herb, cacti, wetland, cottage, and woodland gardens; Discovery Pond; Garden Labyrinth; Rotary Century Plazas; Rock and Conifer Garden; Crevice Garden; and Pollinator Garden. Open from dawn to dusk.

Quantifiable outcome

• Generates 40-50% of electricity from solar energy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Public Gardens AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member organization supporting public gardens across North America. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens participates as a member supporting the broader public gardens community.
• City of Cheyenne Recreation and Events DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Botanic Garden is a division of the City of Cheyenne Recreation and Events Department. The city owns and operates the gardens as a public facility.
• Black Dog Animal RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Furry Friends Dog Fountain project. Donations split equally between Black Dog Animal Rescue and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.
• Laramie County Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded 2024 tree inventory of High Plains Arboretum. Collaboration on preservation and restoration of historic trees.
• Wyoming State Forestry DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted with 2024 tree inventory of High Plains Arboretum, helping monitor tree health and identify pruning and pest control needs.
• USDA Agricultural Research ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh Plains Arboretum shares property with USDA Research Center. 200-year lease signed in 1928, with 62 acres returned to city in 2008.
• Wyoming State ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProposed state historic site project would bring Wyoming State Parks Department in to help manage 877 acres of High Plains Arboretum site.
• Laramie County Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as partner for providing hardy trees for Cheyenne community through other organizations.
• Rooted in CheyenneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing tough trees for Cheyenne community.
• Cheyenne Urban ForestryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing tough trees for Cheyenne community.
• American Horticultural SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal Admissions Program allows members free admission and benefits at over 300 botanical gardens, arboreta, and conservatories in North America and Cayman Islands.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Longwood Gardens: Major public display garden in Pennsylvania with conservatory, education, events, and membership tiers—comparable operational scope spanning horticulture, education, and event hosting.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Major botanical garden offering gardens, conservatory, events, and education programming with membership tiers—a direct comparable in product mix and event-driven revenue streams.
• Garfield Park Conservatory: Chicago's largest public conservatory offering free admission, education, and event programming—comparable operating model as a public-sector, free-admission facility at similar scale.
• Conservatory of Flowers (San Francisco): Public municipal conservatory in Golden Gate Park offering tropical exhibits, education, and event programming—a directly analogous publicly operated conservatory attraction.
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Pittsburgh-based public conservatory and botanical gardens emphasizing sustainability with LEED-certified facilities—a direct parallel to Cheyenne's sustainability positioning.
• United States Botanic Garden: Federal public botanical garden in Washington, DC featuring conservatory exhibits, educational programming, and free admission—the closest match for a public-sector operated, no-gate-fee facility.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: Public botanical garden serving the Denver metro area with conservatory, gardens, and education programming. The closest geographic and climate peer (similar high-plains environment), at materially larger scale.
• Lincoln Park Conservatory: Free public conservatory in Chicago run by the Chicago Park District; closely analogous government-operated model with free admission, education programming, and event venue offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Missouri Botanical Garden: One of the oldest public botanical gardens in the U.S. with extensive conservatory, education, and membership programs—comparable mission and programming mix at substantially larger scale.
• New York Botanical Garden: Major public botanical garden with conservatory, educational programming, events, and membership tiers—a comparable product mix (conservatory, classes, weddings, membership) at far greater scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cheyennebotanic
• Facebookfacebook.com/cheyennebotanic
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheyennebotanic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheyenne-botanic-garden

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cheyenne Botanic Gardens