Manager's Message
Camellia Christmas plans are in full swing! This annual event is our gift to the community and is a great non-commercial way to start off the holiday season. Please join us on Friday night, December 5th, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is free, but donations are welcomed. We'll have hot cider and cookies to chase the chill away; enjoy a stroll along the main Gardens walk, all lit up with candle glow; hear carolers at several locations throughout and be inspired by the greenery arrangements of the Tallahassee Garden Club Flower Show Judges, decorating the Maclay House. A silent auction will feature gifts to buy yourself or another special person and Santa will be on hand to hear secret wishes.
Staff members are busy planting annuals and otherwise getting ready for the winter and spring blooming season. The Maclay House will be open January 1 through April 30. Volunteers are always needed to help staff the Maclay House and the Visitor Center. If you would like to consider joining our team, call Ginger Nichols at 850-487-4115 for more information. It is a fun job, involving a commitment of only four hours per week, and affording an opportunity to meet people from all over the world as you help to share the park story. Volunteers also help in the Gardens and with other chores for park maintenance.
The cool months are great for hiking, biking and horse-riding along over five miles of trails on the Lake Overstreet portion of the park. Just be sure to plan your outing to allow time to return to the trailhead before sunset, as dark comes early these days. We look forward to welcoming you to the park.
- Elizabeth Weidner, Park Manager
Welcome to Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
These beautiful ornamental gardens were first planted in 1923 by Alfred B. and Louise Maclay after they purchased the property for their winter home. A masterpiece of floral architecture, the gardens feature a picturesque brick walkway, a secret garden, a reflection pool, a walled garden, and hundreds of azaleas and camellias. Lake Hall provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Only boats without motors or with electric motors are allowed. Pavilions and grills along the lake shore provide the perfect setting for a picnic. For walking enthusiasts, two short nature trails meander through the woods overlooking the lake. Hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians can enjoy five miles of multi-use trails winding through the woods surrounding Lake Overstreet, located on park property adjoining the gardens. High blooming season is from January 1-April 30 with the floral peak in mid-to-late March. During these months, the Maclay house is usually open daily, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The park is Located one-half mile north of I-10 on U.S. 319.
Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, please call 850-487-4556.
Hours of Operation
Park is open 8 AM to Sunset, and Gardens are open 9 AM to 5 PM daily.
Driving Directions
Maclay State Gardens is located one half mile north of I-10 on U.S. 319.
Park Fees
Admission Fees - Garden Entry during Blooming Months: $4.00 per person for adults and $2.00 per person for children (ages 2 to 12), January through April during peak blooming season.
Park Entry: $4.00 per vehicle for up to 8 people (does not include Gardens entry, January through April)
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
3540 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32309
Phone: 850-487-4556
Fax: Contact Park for Number
Citizen Support Organization
Friends of Maclay Gardens, Inc.
3540 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, FL 32309
