"White Flight" at Branson's Butterfly Place is unique

By Gary Groman

In Branson, Missouri, where natural beauty abounds and its entertainment venues include animals and birds of every type, how can anyone describe a butterfly as “simply incredible?” Well, actually, it’s pretty easy when that butterfly is a White Butterfly flying with thousands of other White Butterflies in a rain forest sparkling with thousands of lights, living angel statutes, colorful white and red poinsettias and beautiful holiday music. In fact, the result is a unique spectacular entertainment experience called “White Flight” that is, simply incredible.

The “White Flight” is currently appearing at Branson’s Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, in a limited engagement, through January 15, 2009. Sarah Bolend, General Manager, said there are about 20 different species of tropical White Butterflies used in the “White Flight” exhibit, but the most common variety is the Paper Kite Butterfly, also commonly called the Rice Paper Butter Fly.

Bolend said that all the butterflies used in all the exhibits, including “White Flight,” at the Butterfly Palace come from tropical rain forests and are shipped to the Butterfly Palace by air express while in their chrysalis stage, commonly called the “cocoon” stage. After the butterfly emerges from the cocoon and its wings dry, it is released into the exhibit where it lives out its average three week life span in a predator free environment.

She went on to explain the reason they have the “rainforest theme” and get all their butterflies from rainforests all around the world is “To showcase something that people haven’t seen before” and provide their guests with a unique experience. None of the butterflies used in the Butterfly Palace are native to the United States.