The estate was originally designed as a self-sufficient working farm and village for the Reynolds family.
The four-acre formal garden was modeled after traditional English and Italian landscape aesthetics.
The original Lord & Burnham greenhouse was restored to preserve its historic iron and glass structure.
The garden layout utilizes the natural slope of the land to create a distinct sunken effect.
The estate grounds include a 16-acre woodland park with trails that connect to the broader Wake Forest University campus.
The site operates as a living laboratory for Wake Forest University students and faculty research.
The gardens have transitioned from a private family landscape to a public recreational and educational space.
Reynolda Gardens covers 129 acres of the original 1,067-acre estate established by Katharine and R.J. Reynolds in 1917. The landscape features a formal four-acre sunken garden designed by landscape architect Thomas Sears in the Italian style. Visitors can access over 1.5 miles of walking trails that wind through secondary-growth woodlands and wetlands. The centerpiece of the garden is a large restored Lord & Burnham greenhouse constructed in 1913. The site serves as a public horticultural resource managed by Wake Forest University. The gardens retain original architectural features, including stone walls and reflecting pools integrated into the hillside topography. The grounds are part of the larger Reynolda Historic District, which also encompasses a museum of American art and an adjacent village of shops. The gardens are designed to showcase seasonal plant displays that change throughout the calendar year.
The central path leading toward the historic Lord & Burnham greenhouse.
Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for gravel paths and uneven woodland trails.
Visit the greenhouses early to avoid mid-day humidity and heat during summer months.
Bring a camera to capture the seasonal bloom transitions, particularly during peak spring tulip season.
Attempting to walk through all 129 acres without checking the map, as woodland trails can be longer than they appear.
The gardens are open daily throughout the year, though specific greenhouse interiors may periodically close for seasonal maintenance.
Stay on marked trails to protect planting beds; photography is permitted but professional sessions require prior coordination.
