Panhandle Butterfly House & Nature Center A Haven for Butter fly Enthusiasts
by Nicole Willis
T is a quaint butterfly sanctuary located in downtown walkway and more. Funding for the move and renovations he Panhandle Butterfly House & Nature Center (PBH) building repairs, planting gardens, adding an accessible
Milton that houses several species of butterflies and also came from a variety of sources including donations, gift shop serves to educate visitors on these fascinating creatures. sales, fundraisers, an Impact 100 grant and beyond. The postrenovation grand opening of the PBH was held last October. As a program of the nonprofit organization Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, Inc., the goal of the PBH is to “enhance the The new PBH facility is the historical T.W. Jones house, located environmental awareness by connecting its visitors with at 4966 Henry St. in Milton. This home was built in the late Florida native butterflies, botanical gardens and nature trails.” 1800s and sits atop 9 acres of beautiful land. While exploring all that the property has to offer, visitors will stroll through 18 The PBH was founded by butterfly enthusiasts, Jack and different gardens, a vibrant vivarium and a short nature trail. Fonda Wetherell. Though the couple has passed on, their legacy continues decades later, as the PBH remains an active “This [acreage] provides us the opportunity to expand educational center in Northwest Florida. our conservation efforts and showcase native plant gardening. We are housed in a registered historical Officially opening its doors in 1997, the PBH was established in home and expound on the cultural history of the Navarre Park, where the house remained until 2018. Jones family and local history,” Murfey said. “Gardens surround the home, vivarium and “ The PBH relocated from Navarre Park in 2018 due to throughout the grounds. The quarter-mile renovations to the park by Santa Rosa County. We had to find a Tiger Nature Trail provides a living backdrop new home, and in 2020, we purchased the T.W. Jones property for exploring the Blackwater River floodplain from the Blackwater River Foundation,” PBH Executive Director ecosystem and wetlands.” Pamela Murfey explained. “We wanted to create a regional conservation facility within Santa Rosa County. From there, we needed to build a new vivarium to house the live butterflies, install pollinator gardens and make the facility accessible to all.” Onc e the prop er t y was purchase d, a t wo -year renovation throughout the property began in July 2021. Renovations included the construction of the vivarium,
PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 13