Group Tours

Planning Your Garden Experience

Lakewold Gardens is a great place to gather your group and enjoy an inspirational experience. With visits from garden clubs, The Red Hat ladies, car clubs, artists, senior centers, and school groups, we encourage all groups to book Lakewold Gardens for their next outing. Guided group tours are offered year-around for groups of 10 or more people.

Recognizing that some groups return annually to Lakewold and want an opportunity for a slightly different touring experience, we have developed the following tours for your planning purposes:

The Grand Tour

is tour of Lakewold Gardens starts in the former Tennis Court, now used as the tour parking area. Your volunteer docent will lead you on a full tour of the estate that includes a walk through the Woodland Garden. Our mix of docents can provide historical or horticulturally-focused interpretation, or a delightful mix of both. Allow approximately 1-1/2 hours for this tour, plus a stop at The Garden Shop where treasures await. $8 per person/$80 minimum. Available for booking Tuesday-Friday.

The Coffee and Chat Tour

his trip to Lakewold Gardens begins with a fun 45 minute interpretive presentation in the Library of the Wagner House. Ideal for the less-mobile garden lovers, time is allowed for ‘on your own’ enjoyment of the Formal Garden areas which are flat and relatively easy to traverse. The entire gardens are available for your enjoyment. A relaxing visit on the Verandah, overlooking the lake is a possiblity. Coffee/beverage service is included. Allow at least 1-1/2 hours for this visit, plus a stop at The Garden Shop where treasures await. (Maximum group size: 20). $8 per person/$80 minimum. Available for booking Tuesday-Friday.

The Explore and More Tour

This trip to Lakewold Gardens includes a group rate discount for groups of 10 or more. Armed with a self-guided tour map, your group can discover the gardens on its own. Ideal for amateur photography classes, a casual group outing, an extended family visit, or as part of a girlfriends’ weekend, Lakewold is all yours! Allow at least an hour for discovery of Lakewold, plus a stop at The Garden Shop where treasures await. $7 per person/$70 minimum. Available for booking Tuesday-Friday.
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Group Tours of Lakewold Gardens can be scheduled Tuesday through Friday, at 10:30 am, 11:30 am or 1:30 pm. A minimum of 2 weeks advance reservation is highly recommended to ensure the type of tour and date you are requesting. For maximum planning purposes, we schedule tours up to a year in advance. After reviewing the information below, please complete the Tour Reservation Form located at the bottom of this page. For questions, please email Visitor Services or call 253-584-4106, x108.

• Once your tour is scheduled you will receive a confirmation letter by mail. Included in your packet will be a list of area restaurants and attractions and full details about your tour.
  
  
• Because we have a limited number of docents, priority is given to those groups that have reserved first on popular tour dates.
  
  
• While not entirely handicapped-accessible, Lakewold offers many flat areas that can be traversed. Please be advised that we recommend an assistant accompany those touring guests requiring wheelchair assistance. Lakewold staff is unable to assist/push wheelchairs during a tour.
  
  
• To make the best use of time during your tour day, a single group payment is recommended.
  
  
• Picnicing and brown bag lunches are encouraged. However, Lakewold is unable to reserve the verandah or other picnic areas for tours. A tour group may rent the Sunroom (includes table and chairs) for 2 hours at a pre-paid cost of $50, if a lunch area is needed. Kitchen facilities are not available and this area must be reserved at least one month in advance. Payment is due upon reservation.
  
  
• Lakewold is closed to the public on Tuesdays during peak tour season. We welcome your tour group on these day, however, are unable to guarantee that The Garden Shop will be open. Also, due to work and special projects in the garden, we ask that Tuesday tour groups understand that their tour may have limitations not normally experienced on other tour days.

To book your tour, please complete the Tour Reservation Form. For questions, please email Visitor Services or call 253-584-4106, x108. We look forward to your visit!