South Texas Botanical Gardens And Nature Center

What South Texas Botanical Gardens And Nature Center does

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 182-acre public garden and nature center on leased city parkland at 8545 S. Staples in Corpus Christi, Texas. Founded in 1983 as the Corpus Christi Botanical Society and relocated to its permanent site in 1996, the organization maintains formal botanical collections (orchid, bromeliad, plumeria, rose), a butterfly house, native wetlands, wildlife viewing areas including Gator Lake and Oso Creek, and resident exotic parrot and reptile exhibits. It is an official site on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and hosts the annual Birdiest Festival in America. The facility includes a 2,000 sq ft Visitors Center, 2,000 sq ft Education Station, 1,000 sq ft Administration Building, and 500 sq ft Facilities Maintenance Office, and is open daily 9 AM to 6 PM.

The organization generates revenue across seven streams: general admission ($6-$10 per visitor), annual memberships (nine tiers from $40 Individual to $1,000 Benefactor, plus a $150 professional photographer tier), facility rentals ($200-$600 base rates for weddings and corporate events), field trips ($8-$17 per student for K-12 groups), private animal encounters ($60-$105), gift shop sales, and donations/grants/sponsorships. Notable revenue partners include CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery as the 12-year presenting sponsor of the Moonlight Magic in the Gardens fundraiser and the Coastal Bend Community Foundation which holds the endowment. Members receive reciprocal admission to 350+ botanical gardens through the American Horticultural Society network. Online ticketing and donations are processed via Blackbaud.

The customer base spans individual visitors and families, K-12 schools and youth groups, corporate event planners, professional photographers, and annual members. Marketing channels include the website (stxbot.org), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, an email newsletter via Constant Contact, a weekly 'Blooming in the Gardens' column in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and signature events including Big Bloom Plant Sale (5,000+ attendees), Moonlight Magic in the Gardens (500-800 guests), and the Birdiest Festival in America (200+ birders from across the U.S.). Strategic partnerships for programming include Nueces Master Gardeners, Texas Master Naturalists, and the Plumeria Society of South Texas. The organization adopted a new Strategic Plan and Master Plan in 2022 and is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Michael Womack.

Name

South Texas Botanical Gardens And Nature Center

Legal name

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Website

https://stxbot.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 182-acre public botanical garden, nature center, and wildlife sanctuary in Corpus Christi, Texas, serving individual visitors, K-12 schools, corporate event planners, and members through admissions, memberships, facility rentals, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAL

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJACAH

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

Keywords

• Botanical garden admission
• Nature center programs
• Environmental education
• Membership programs
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Corpus Christi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Visitors pay admission fees to enter the 182-acre botanical garden and nature center. Adults $10, seniors/military/college $8, children 3-12 $6, under 3 and members free.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships provide free admission, reciprocal privileges to 350 other botanical gardens, discounts at partner retailers, free Saturday classes, and facility rental privileges. Tiers range from Individual ($40) to Benefactor ($1000).
3. Facilities Rental: Event venue rentals including Rose Garden Pavilion, Plumeria Garden Platform, Palapa Grande, Education Station. Rental fees range from $200-$600 base rates plus additional hourly charges. Available to members only.
4. Photography Business Membership: Professional photographers purchase annual $150 membership allowing them to bring clients for photo sessions at no additional per-person charge.
5. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit receives foundation, corporate, and private donations, grants, and planned giving contributions. Receives $100,000 in local Hotel Occupancy Tax funding.
6. Event Sponsorships: Major annual events including Moonlight Magic in the Gardens, Big Bloom Plant Sale, Birdiest Festival, and Holly-Days rely on corporate sponsorships for substantial staging costs.
7. Field Trips and Educational Programs: School and youth group field trips priced $8-$17 per student depending on grade level and program type (self-directed vs directed vs customized science lessons).
8. Private Animal Encounters: Private experiences with parrots or reptiles at $60 (20 min, 3 animals) or $105 (30 min, mixed) plus admission. Additional fees for groups beyond 6 people or extra animals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 182-acre destination on leased city parkland in Corpus Christi, Texas, featuring plant collections, conservatories (orchid, bromeliad, butterfly house), wetlands, nature trails, and resident exotic parrot and reptile exhibits. It sells daily general admission, annual memberships with reciprocal privileges at 350+ U.S. botanical gardens, K-12 field trips, summer nature camps, Saturday horticulture classes, private animal encounters, and member-only venue rentals for weddings and corporate events.

Product overview

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature destination on 182 acres of leased city parkland. The core offering is general admission access to diverse gardens and natural habitats. The portfolio includes distinct product lines: (1) Gardens & Nature Center with conservatories (Orchid, Bromeliad, Butterfly House), Rose Pavilion, Sensory Garden, nature trails, and wildlife areas; (2) Animal Experiences including REP-TALES weekend reptile shows and Private Animal Encounters with parrots and reptiles; (3) Educational Programs encompassing K-12 field trips, Summer Nature Camps, and Saturday Morning Classes; (4) Blooming in the Gardens weekly horticultural content; (5) Signature Events including Moonlight Magic in the Gardens fundraiser and Birdiest Festival in America; (6) Venue Rental for weddings and corporate events; (7) Membership Program offering reciprocal admission to 350+ gardens; and (8) Nature's Boutique gift shop. Ticketing and donations are processed through Blackbaud e-commerce integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gardens & Nature Center General Admission Daily access to the 182-acre botanical gardens and nature center including conservatories (orchid, bromeliad, butterfly house), rose pavilion, nature trails, wetland boardwalk, and wildlife viewing areas such as Gator Lake and Oso Creek. Targeted at general public visitors.
• Annual Membership Program Tiered annual memberships (Individual $40 to Benefactor $1,000) granting free admission, reciprocal free or discounted entry at 350+ U.S. botanical gardens, 10% discounts at partner retailers, free Saturday classes, and venue rental privileges.
• Facility Venue Rental Event venue rentals for members including Rose Garden & Pavilion ($350-$600), Plumeria Garden Platform/Play Areas/Palapa Grande ($200), and Education Station indoor space ($300) for weddings, showers, corporate events, and memorial services.
• K-12 Field Trips Nature-based educational field trips for school and youth groups with three program tiers: Self-Directed ($8-$9/student), Directed ($12-$14/student), and Directed with Customized Science/Nature Craft ($15-$17/student); minimum 12 students required.
• Private Animal Encounters Private interactive sessions where guests hold, pet, feed, and photograph parrots or reptiles. Options include 3-parrot or 3-reptile sessions (20 minutes, $60) or combined sessions (30 minutes, $105), plus admission; member discount available.
• REP-TALES Weekend Reptile Shows Weekend educational reptile presentations at 10:30 AM on the Festival Lawn featuring tortoise, iguana, and snake animal ambassadors; included with general admission or membership.
• Saturday Morning Horticulture Classes Horticulture and environmental education workshops taught by Master Gardeners covering rainwater harvesting, composting, xeriscaping, butterfly attraction, native plants, orchid care, and bonsai; 9:30 AM at the Education Station with 40-seat classroom; included with admission/membership or $5 per class.
• Summer Nature Camps

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• CITGO Corpus Christi RefinerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the signature annual fundraiser Moonlight Magic in the Gardens for 12 consecutive years. The 2026 event celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
• American Public Gardens AssociationmajorOthersProfessional association membership providing networking, resources, and industry best practices for public botanical gardens.
• Texas Association of Botanical Gardens & ArboretaregionalOthersState-level professional association connecting Texas botanical gardens and providing regional collaboration opportunities.
• American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Gardens ProgramcoreOthersReciprocal membership network enabling members of South Texas Botanical Gardens to receive free or discounted admission at 350+ participating gardens across the U.S.
• Visit Corpus ChristiregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tourism organization promoting South Texas Botanical Gardens as a visitor destination and participating in the See You Soon CC pass program.
• Texas Travel AllianceregionalOthersState tourism industry association supporting and promoting Texas travel destinations and attractions.
• United Corpus Christi Chamber of CommerceregionalOthersLocal Chamber of Commerce membership for business networking and community advocacy.
• Plumeria Society of South TexasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner maintaining the Botanical Gardens Plumeria Garden. Hosts annual Plumeria Seminar and Sale events at the gardens with proceeds benefiting the Plumeria Garden.
• Nueces Master GardenersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership where Master Gardeners help design and teach Saturday morning horticulture and environmental education classes at the Education Station.
• Texas Master NaturalistsregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program for natural resource education and volunteer stewardship.
• Turner's GardenlandminorOthersPartner retailer offering 10% discount to Botanical Gardens members on plants and garden supplies.
• Feathered Friends & Co.minorOthersPartner retailer offering 10% discount to members (excludes birds).
• Nature's BoutiqueminorOthersOn-site gift shop operated by the Botanical Gardens offering 10% member discount on souvenirs, gifts, and snacks.
• Great Texas Coastal Birding TrailregionalOthersOfficial site on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, designated as a birding hot spot for wildlife observation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Large established nonprofit botanical institution with extensive gardens, education, research, and signature events; sets the broader operating benchmarks for the sector.
• United States Botanic Garden: Federal botanical institution in Washington, DC providing public admission, conservatories, education, and programming; a wider-portfolio comparable on mission and visitor experience.

Direct peers

• Houston Botanic Garden: Newer public botanical garden in the Houston metro offering general admission, memberships, gardens, classes, and educational programs on a similar not-for-profit basis serving Texas visitors.
• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Large-scale Texas botanical garden with admission-based visitation, seasonal events, educational programming, venue rentals, and tiered memberships, providing a comparable operating model at higher scale.
• Mercer Botanic Gardens: Humble, TX public botanical garden on county parkland offering free admission, gardens, nature education, and events — directly comparable regional garden in Texas with similar nonprofit/parks partnership structure.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: University-affiliated botanical attraction near Austin, TX focused on native plants, gardens, education, and conservation; comparable nonprofit mission and programming structure.
• San Antonio Botanical Garden: Public botanical garden in San Antonio operating a comparable mix of curated plant collections, educational programming, memberships with reciprocal garden access, and signature fundraising events in the same Texas market.
• Desert Botanical Garden: Phoenix, AZ nonprofit botanical garden offering general admission, themed gardens, signature seasonal events, memberships, and conservation programming on a comparable nonprofit basis.
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: Major tropical botanical garden in Coral Gables, FL with comparable orchid, plumeria, and bromeliad collections, conservatories, butterfly house, memberships, and educational programming.

Regional players

• Texas State Aquarium: Corpus Christi-based nonprofit aquarium and education facility in the same regional market and visitor ecosystem; comparable nonprofit attraction competing for the same South Texas tourism and education dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stxbot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-texas-botanical-gardens-&-nature-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/southtexasbotanicalgardens

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 South Texas Botanical Gardens And Nature Center