Sunken Gardens

St Petersburg, Florida: Nestled away in the heart of historic Old Northeast district of St Pete, the tropical oasis of Sunken Gardens has been entertaining visitors for over a century.  The botanical garden stands as a reminder of years gone by, a look back to when roadside attractions dotted the landscape.

The gardens began life in 1903 when avid gardener George Turner Sr purchased a 4-acre plot of land in the northeast section of town.  He drained a shallow lake on the property to create his sunken garden.  Mr Turner then opened a nursery and it wasn't long before people were paying a nickel to see his gardens.  This transformed into the vision of a public garden and his tropical gardens became a roadside attraction in 1935 where guests would pay a quarter to stroll the tropical oasis.  The popularity of the attraction grew rapidly over the years, eventually become a top ten attraction in Florida.  Following Turner's death, the gardens were turned over to the city of St Petersburg who continue to operate it in his legacy.

A trip to the gardens begins in the visitors center.  A building just as historic as the gardens itself.  Opened as the Sanitary Public Market, it later became a Coca-Cola Bottling Company before being bought by the Turners to create the world's largest gift shop and King of Kings Wax Museum. Today it has found a home on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to the garden's gift shop, offices and Great Explorations, a children's museum.

Once past the entrances, the path opens up to a the gardens and winding paths that lead through the tropical oasis filled with over 50,000 tropical plants and flowers including some of the oldest in the region.   Your walk will wind you through colorful gardens and serene waterfalls with a few tropical birds and animals along the way including a flock of Chilean Flamingos.

Today Sunken Gardens stands as the city's oldest living history museum.  It has its place in history and remains a popular destination where guests can continue to walk in the footsteps of past travelers and enjoy one of the country's first true roadside attraction.

Sunken Gardens is located at 1825 4th Street North in downtown St Petersburg.  It is open daily and admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for kids.

Click on the photo above to view my Sunken Gardens photo gallery.

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