History
When Alan and Karen Ashton, co-founders of WordPerfect Corporation, purchased the property now known as Thanksgiving Point on Valentine's Day, 1995, it had 580 dairy cows and more than 350 acres of hay, barley, and alfalfa fields. Initially, the new owners bought the land for a farm where their children could enjoy riding horses and caring for farm animals. But their plans soon expanded to include beautiful flower gardens and an amazing dinosaur museum. By the summer of 2006, the nonprofit institute included the fifty-five acre Thanksgiving Point Gardens, Museum of Ancient Life, Farm Country, Harvest Restaurant, Deli and Bakery, eight large conference and banquet rooms, the Emporium with gracious offerings for your home, ten acres of beautifully landscaped reception areas; a 4,000-seat outdoor waterfall amphitheatre, and; an 18-hole championship golf course.
Specialties
The Museum of Ancient Life has the distinction of being the world's largest display of mounted dinosaurs. Not only will you meet our fierce prehistoric friends at the museum, though, you'll also become a part of their world. While you're weaving through the exhibits, chirps of insects and growls of ancient creatures greet you in each hall. Exhibits like the Erosion Table and the Fossil Dig give you an opportunity be a part of the science of paleontology. Needless to say, this is not an ordinary museum.