Thanksgiving Point

Thanksgiving Point is a nonprofit museum and garden complex in Lehi, Utah, founded by Alan and Karen Ashton in 1995. It functions as a multi-venue educational and event campus serving Utah County.

The site groups several distinct attractions on one campus. The grounds include the Ashton Gardens, a large cultivated garden with formal beds and themed plantings across roughly 55 acres. On-campus museums include a natural-history museum with an extensive fossil and mounted skeleton display and an interactive children’s discovery museum oriented to hands-on science experiences. There is also a working demonstration farm and multiple event spaces used for weddings, conferences, and seasonal festivals.

Thanksgiving Point was established in the mid-1990s and expanded over the following decades from a single exhibition concept into a multi-attraction institute combining horticulture, paleontology, and family science education. Facilities and exhibits have been added progressively to serve school groups and tourists.

The complex sits in Lehi, Utah, adjacent to Interstate 15 in Utah County, roughly 30 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City. The site is accessed from local roads and serves visitors from the greater Salt Lake City-Provo corridor.

• Best time to visit: Seasonal interest peaks in spring and summer when the gardens are in bloom; special events and light displays run in autumn and winter.
• Tickets and access: On-site parking is available and individual or combination tickets cover access to different museums and the gardens; check pricing before arrival.

What to See #

• Ashton Gardens: A cultivated public garden covering roughly 55 acres with formal beds, themed gardens, and paved paths that are suitable for walking and events.
• Museum of Ancient Life: A natural-history museum focused on fossils and dinosaurs, with a large display of fossil specimens and mounted skeletons.
• Museum of Natural Curiosity: An interactive, family-focused science and discovery museum with hands-on exhibits designed for children and school groups.
• Farm Country: A working demonstration farm and seasonal area with domesticated animals, farm-themed exhibits, and harvest events.