We welcome small groups to explore our 26-acre botanical garden with a guided educational riding tour. Due to our location in a residential community with narrow streets, along with our limited parking area, we must limit group size to 12-20 people. We are only able to accommodate vans or mini buses less than 24 feet in length. No full-size motorcoaches are permitted. 

• Advanced reservations are required by completing the below form. We book groups up to three months in advance for Thursdays, 10:30 or 1 PM starting time, during April – early November. On Fridays, we host individual tours, while the other days are reserved for research and garden maintenance. We are a gated property, so reservations are a must for any visit.

• We accept group reservations up to three months in advance. If you need to cancel, please give us at least a two-week notice to allow another group to book. 

• While we do not charge admission, we certainly appreciate and depend upon donations. The typical donation for groups averages $25/person. Usually group leaders pay with one check or collect cash for us. You may also donate online here with credit card or Venmo.

• A one-hour riding tour is conducted via electric shuttles on paved trails. Learn about some of our 14,000 species – including seasonal blooms and rare species, plus take home some gardening tips from our 35 years of research. 

• We are a working, teaching botanical garden. Please stay on the trails for your safety. 

• Please share our website with your group members in advance so they know what to anticipate.

• Our guides pick up your group in the parking area and drive approximately one mile through the gardens – usually taking about one hour. The tour concludes in the vegetable garden where guests can stroll the short paths to see what is growing. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for your visit.

• If any of your guests have mobility challenges and cannot step up on shuttle, there are places to sit by the parking area with garden views. 

• Shuttles are open air – so jackets or rain gear may be needed.

• Restrooms are available near the parking area.

• We do not have picnic facitilies. Please no food or snacks on the tours.

• No pets, music, amplified voices, tobacco products allowed. Please silence your phones!

• For more things to do in Boone: www.exploreboone.com

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Location: 174 Evergreen Lane in Boone, NC. Directions via Google Maps can be found here.

Call us at 828-263-3358 for additional questions!

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To request a group tour on a Thursday with 12-20 people, please let us know below. For visits with fewer folks, check availablity and book online here for Fridays.