We in Goldthwaite are very proud of our beautiful Texas Botanical Gardens, the Goldthwaite Pavilion, and the outdoor learning opportunities they have provided our town. However, none of these establishments would be possible without the generosity and service of our community. What better time to support the gardens and enrichment programs than at a fabulous fundraising event?

Save the Date

Less than two weeks away, on October 1, is the 13th Annual Prairie Experience, which will be hosted in the Pavilion at Legacy Plaza beginning at 5:00 pm. The Prairie Experience, cleverly themed H20 ’22 in reference to the botanical garden’s conservation of water, is the most anticipated event of the year in Mills County! With great food, fine wine, fun entertainment, auction items, and wonderful company, this is an evening you do not want to miss!

Improvements Made Possible

Since last year’s event, over 2,500 men, women, and children have participated in a variety of tours and educational programs that have taught a number of topics related to native landscapes and the archaeology of Mills County. We can thank our beloved staff and nearly 50 volunteers contributing over 1,500 service hours for the widespread knowledge of resource conservation. The gardens have also had the pleasure of hosting and sponsoring events in collaboration with the Jennie Trent Dew Library, the Mills County Historical Museum, Texas Parks and Wildlife, USDA, Boy Scouts of America, and several active local wildlife conservancy groups.

Improvements to the gardens will continue this year, as will the development of virtual access to the garden’s outdoor enrichment classes. Hence, all of the proceeds from this year’s Prairie Experience will support each of the activities, classes, and events held at Legacy Plaza’s Texas Botanical Gardens, Pavilion, and Welcome Center. 

Since its construction in 2016, the Legacy Plaza Pavilion has been the ideal venue for town events, corporate meetings, holiday celebrations, and any sort of communal gathering hosted in Goldthwaite. Our continued improvements, made possible by the Prairie Experience fundraiser, have made the space so desirable, that the pavilion is already booked as far in advance as March 2032. 

Fun to be Had

Not only is the Prairie Experience for a good cause, but it is also one of the most exciting nights of the year! You know how fun City Manager Rob Lindsay can be on the mic so you can imagine how exhilarating the live auction can get! But no need to be overwhelmed, you can also shop the silent auction peacefully throughout the event. In fact, you can even get a head start! Beginning September 19th, you can start bidding on this year’s items online. Click here for the link. You’ll notice several of the items, including many of the weekend getaways, are water-related to go along with this year’s theme of water conservation. 

In addition to the live and silent auctions, there will also be a raffle prize to try your luck on. Live music this year will be played by the Texas band known as Gillan and Burns. And back by popular demand is Chef Preston Andrews who will serve another delicious meal for dinner. If you can’t attend the event but would still like to try Chef Andrew’s gourmet cooking, individual takeout meals will be available for $150, and will be picked up in the Welcome Center from 5-6 pm.

Thank You

The Texas Botanical Gardens thank you in advance for your generosity. Their emphasis on educating people, young and not so young, concerning sustainability and proper stewardship of land, water, and other natural resources makes this a notable cause worth supporting. Also thank you to the sponsors Lawson Implement, MCBank, Pecans.com, Pigfoot Ranch LLC, and Tegeler, without whom this event would not be possible. More event sponsors are listed here.