The Newfoundland Insectarium is set to celebrate a significant milestone in the coming days.

The insectarium, located outside Deer Lake, has been in operation for nearly 23 years.

In that time, owner Lloyd Hollett says they have kept track of everyone to come through the doors, and pretty soon they’ll be welcoming their 500,000th visitor.

Hollett won’t reveal just how close they are to the lucky number, but notes that the visitor will be walking through the doors “quite soon.”

Hollett says there is a lot to see and do at the facility. Some of their main attractions include a butterfly garden featuring “hundreds” of live butterflies, a beehive that people can observe, and about a hundred other displays for people to check out.

Hollett describes one common reaction that visitors have.

He says people are often surprised and “blown away” that such a facility exists in the province, noting that it is a world-class, award-winning exhibit.