The Society of Animal Artists chose Turtle Bay as the premier venue for its 62nd annual Art and the Animal exhibition. We are very excited to be selected as the premier venue. With our interdisciplinary approach and adjacent hotel, this is a logical place to host an exhibition at the intersection of Fine Art and Natural Science. This year’s subjects range from the domestic to the exotic. During the exhibition, guests can see an artistic representation of a bobcat and then see Whisper in person. Black vultures, like our Ned, and a barred owl, like Chef, are featured alongside zebra, orangutan, lions, spiders, and more.

December’s artifact of the month is a Marble Model 1908A Game Getter with a folding stock. Marble’s Arms & Manufacturing Company saw the need to develop a versatile firearm that could be used by anyone in the family to protect their vegetable garden from pests, as well as shoot small game such as rabbit, quail, and dove.

The holiday season is in full swing and we have winter activities for you and your family to enjoy! Turtle Bay’s 3rd annual Redding Garden of Lights is a holiday tradition for visitors from near and far. We are excited to bring the holiday magic to Redding this year with new light displays, extended show dates, and the highly-anticipated New Year’s Eve party.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is an interdisciplinary institution that caters to folks of all ages, interests, and walks of life. As such, we strive to offer a variety of exhibits highlighting art, science, history, and more within the Museum, Mill Building, and elsewhere throughout the Park. We are especially dedicated to hosting interactive STEAM exhibitions like Magnificent Me!

With every stroke of the brush, the painting gets better. Vibrant splashes of greens, reds, and purples bring it all to life. The artist has continued to develop his craft over the last six years. His name is Ruckus, and he is a Yellow-billed magpie! Come see Ruckus paint in action at our Animal Artists program on Fridays at 2pm.

‘Tis the season for travel! Have you been on a plane or a train, or a cross-country bus ride? If so, chances are you put tags on your suitcases so that you and the transportation company can easily find your bags. You may have used the paper ones provided by the airline or maybe a really nice leather identification tag that you received as a gift. These metal baggage tags serve a similar purpose!

Oktoberfest 2022 was a blast for the whole family! Nearly 1,200 people celebrated this fall tradition in Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp at Turtle Bay. Guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks from local vendors, marveled at the talent of community artisans, and listened to hits performed by Black Vinyl 45 in our outdoor amphitheater.

The Plant of the Month for October is chosen by David Knight, Turtle Bay’s Lead Gardener for the Sundial Bridge environs, Turtle Bay Grounds, and Sheraton Redding Hotel landscape. True Myrtles Myrtus communis (and cultivars) are native to the Mediterranean Basin. David cites their evergreen foliage, great textures, and different growth patterns, as well as their drought tolerance, as reasons why they are some of his favorite plants.

This past Saturday at Turtle Bay, we had the opportunity to learn from some of the professional artists featured in our latest Museum exhibit, Art and the Animal by the Society of Animal Artists.

Artifact of the Month: Betel Nut Containers

This former Mystery Object had a short run in our visitor poll. Guests selected it as soon as it was posted! These beautiful containers likely held seeds of the areca palm (Areca catechu), commonly referred to as betel nuts, in the large compartment and slaked lime in the smaller compartment.

How often do we hear the words “just for fun?” There is no “just” about it. Fun is an essential part of our development and our continuing mental health. Play is practice for, and relief from, the serious business of living. Play is an instinctive act modified by intelligence.

Our 10th annual Caffeinate for a Cause was a huge success, thanks to our amazing community! On Thursday, September 22, Turtle Bay teamed up with local Dutch Bros. Coffee locations in Redding, Anderson, and Palo Cedro to raise money for the education programs, animals, and museum exhibitions that visitors look forward to when visiting the Park.

The Plant of the Month for September is chosen by Hannah Sweeney, Turtle Bay’s Lead Gardener at the Botanical Gardens. Hannah likes that Desert Willow is drought-tolerant, can bloom all summer, and is beloved by hummingbirds.

What is an eye wash cup? An eyecup is a vessel that allows a person to quickly and easily flush out their eye when it’s irritated or dry. Eye cups fell out of favor with the advent of eye drops, but they are still used today–even after hundreds of years!

Today, everyone is dependent on forest plants to provide many of the raw materials for the manufactured products we use every day. Everything from lumber to paper to cancer treatments comes from our local forests. Now, imagine what it would be like to rely on local plants for not just food but nearly everything you to need to live and to thrive. Using Indigenous belongings from Turtle Bay’s Permanent Collection, this exhibition demonstrates how some of our local native plants are used to create the tools of everyday life.

It is with very heavy hearts that we let everyone know that we had to say goodbye to Inali, our grey fox yesterday. There will never be enough words to express our gratitude, admiration, or love we have had for Inali. She has given so much to education, the trainers, and to our guests. Our hearts are broken, but we will cherish the gifts she has given and remember her forever!

Summer is the butterfly season in full bloom! At Turtle Bay’s Arboretum and Garden’s Nursery, Senior Horticulturist and Nursery Specialist Linda Russo points out a multitude of drought-tolerant butterfly plants that thrive in our area with beautiful blooms and interesting foliage.

Saturday, August 20, 2022 - Walk for Wildlife 2022 was a major success, thanks to the nearly 300 participants who walked in support of the animals at Turtle Bay!