Over three decades, Rosie crawled into thousands of palms, her eight hairy legs unexpectedly soft and her demeanor surprisingly gentle for a spider larger than a child’s hands. Over the years, holding Rosie the Chilean rose hair tarantula became almost synonymous with visits to the butterflypavilion in Westminster during birthdays, field trips or just for fun. But now Rosie is tired and ready to dust off the guitar she gave up years ago, join a book club, play some mahjong and retire. The Butterfly Pavilion announced in August that beginning September 8, Rosie would transition from a public handling experience to a dedicated exhibit home, where visitors will be able to see her but no longer hold her. ✍️ Read the full story by kfiorewrites at westword.com or at the link in our bio. 🎥 katrinaleibee #denver #denvercolorado #rosiethetarantula #butterflypavilion #denvernews