- Attraction: Garden Conservatory at the Gaylord Opryland
- Location: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
- Industry: Botanical Garden
- Website: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Picture stepping from the Tennessee heat into a climate-controlled paradise where waterfalls cascade year-round and palm trees tower overhead.
The Garden Conservatory at the Gaylord Opryland transforms an unexpected Nashville location into something extraordinary—9 acres of lush indoor gardens sprawling beneath soaring glass atriums.
Since the original Garden Conservatory opened in 1982, this botanical wonderland has grown into one of the world’s most impressive indoor garden displays, featuring 50,000 tropical plants representing more than 215 species.
What began as a one-and-a-half-acre garden concept has evolved into four distinct garden areas—the Garden Conservatory, Delta, Cascades, and Magnolia—each with its own personality and appeal.
The Garden Sections
The Delta: This massive Southern-themed garden serves as the heart of the experience and will likely consume most of your visit time. You’ll wander past 120 sabal palms, towering magnolias reaching 40 feet tall, and 1,500 camellia plants representing 30 varieties.
Related
More in Tennessee
Step Inside The Nashville Bar Serving Beer-Braised Wings, Truffle Burgers, And Endless Good Vibes
Keep Exploring →The Delta River winds through the space—a quarter-mile waterway crafted from samples of 1,700 rivers from around the world, including every single river in the USA. Spanish moss drapes dramatically from tree branches, creating that authentic Southern atmosphere.
The Delta Riverboat Tour: Hop aboard the flatboat ride that glides through the Delta’s winding waterways.
This 15-minute journey offers a completely different perspective of the gardens, letting you drift past rocky banks decorated with exotic vegetation and under bridges connecting the various sections.
Taking the boat tour after dark provides an especially magical experience when the gardens are illuminated.
The Cascades: This section greets you with dramatic double waterfalls—and here’s something special: you can walk through a tunnel constructed underneath the falls. An observation window lets you peer through the rushing water, creating incredible photo opportunities.
More in Tennessee
Betty’s Parkway In Columbia Proves That Some Family Recipes Are Too Good To Stay In The Kitchen
Discover MoreThe jumping fountain spray features add playful movement to the space, and the area feels especially enchanting during the holiday season when millions of lights transform the gardens.
The Garden Conservatory Section: The original garden area from 1982 maintains its charm with more intimate pathways, small waterfalls, and picturesque gazebos tucked among the greenery. This section tends to feel quieter and more contemplative compared to the grander Delta area.
You’ll find interesting tropical specimens here, including variegated agaves and even a zombie palm, whose needles are reportedly used in voodoo traditions.
The Magnolia: This area connects to restaurants and shops, creating a transitional space between the pure garden experience and the resort amenities.
During holidays, the outdoor sections of Magnolia feature breathtaking light displays, including elaborate nativity scenes and Christmas trees formed entirely from white lights.
Related
More in Tennessee
Step Inside This 1905 Victorian House Where Nashville Locals Feast Like It’s Thanksgiving Every Day
Keep Exploring →The Atmosphere & Experience
Climate Perfection: Forget about Nashville’s weather—inside the conservatory, you’ll enjoy a consistent 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
The humidity stays around 55 percent, and an air exchange system refreshes the atmosphere four times daily. The air quality feels remarkably fresh and clean, almost spa-like.
Winding Pathways: The gardens intentionally create a maze-like experience with winding paths that make you feel like you’re exploring a jungle.
Maps are posted at most entrances, and you’ll want to grab one—the space is genuinely massive enough that you can easily lose your bearings. Many visitors spend 2-3 hours wandering without seeing everything.
Water Features Everywhere: Waterfalls, rivers, fountains, and koi-filled ponds appear around every corner. The sound of flowing water creates a soothing ambiance throughout your visit.
More in Tennessee
This Countryside Restaurant In Chuckey Is Recreating The Magic Of Sunday Supper With Family-Style Dining
Discover MoreYou’ll encounter countless small cascades and peaceful pools perfect for pausing to take photos or just soaking in the tranquility.
Skywalks and Multiple Levels: Elevated walkways let you view the gardens from above, providing stunning overlooks of the tropical landscape below.
Hotel rooms with balconies open onto these gardens, but as a visitor, you can access the skyways to capture that bird’s-eye perspective of the lush greenery.
Educational Touches: The Learning Log offers interactive exhibits, particularly engaging for children who can crawl inside to explore. On Friday and Saturday afternoons, the gardens host Animal Encounters where you can interact with and learn about creatures that call the conservatory home.
Special Events & Shows
Fountain Water Shows: Every hour from 6 PM to 10 PM, the Delta Fountain comes alive with choreographed water, light, and music shows.
Related
More in Tennessee
This Tennessee Cafe Has A Collection Of Over 500 Vintage Cookie Jars You Can Admire While You Eat
Keep Exploring →Each hour features a different show, so if you catch the 7 PM performance and stick around for 8 PM, you’ll experience something new. The shows are romantic enough for couples yet captivating enough to hold children’s attention.
Live Music: The Falls Bar offers live music on weekend afternoons, letting you sip a mimosa while surrounded by cascading water and tropical plants—a surprisingly sophisticated experience in the middle of Tennessee.
Holiday Spectacular: Christmas transforms the conservatory into something almost surreal.
Over 25,000 hours go into decorating the space with millions of twinkling lights, enormous Christmas trees, elaborate displays, and festive décor in every corner. The seasonal ICE! attraction complements the garden displays, though it requires a separate ticket.
Practical Considerations
Free to Visit (Sort of): The gardens themselves are free to explore, but parking presents the main expense. On-site parking costs $37 for self-parking or $55 for valet.
Savvy visitors park at the adjacent Opry Mills Mall for free and walk over—it’s a bit of a hike but definitely doable and can save you a significant amount if you’re just visiting for a few hours.
Dining and Shopping Options: You’ll find more than a dozen restaurants scattered throughout the garden sections, from casual counter-service spots perfect for quick snacks to upscale options like Old Hickory Steakhouse and Ravello’s Italian.
Plenty of little shops offer souvenirs and gifts. You can even pack sandwiches and enjoy a picnic at the many tables nestled among the foliage.
Plan Your Time: Most visitors spend 2-3 hours exploring, though you could easily fill an entire day if you include dining, boat rides, and fountain shows. The gardens are open 24 hours since they’re part of a hotel, but they’re most spectacular in the evening when lighting enhances the experience.
Best for All Ages: Families love the space for its stroller-friendly paths and engaging water features that captivate children.
Couples find it romantic, especially during evening hours. Even solo travelers enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and photo opportunities. The conservatory works equally well as a rainy-day activity or a planned destination.
Accessibility and Navigation: The massive scale can be challenging—this is essentially a small city contained under glass.
Maps are essential, and you should note your starting point since all the pathways and garden sections can blend together. The resort has more than 2,800 rooms spread across multiple sections, so getting genuinely lost is possible.
Pricing Perspective: Beyond parking, the experience itself is free. If you eat at one of the resort restaurants, some visitors report receiving parking vouchers, though this isn’t consistently offered.
The boat ride may have a small fee. For a free attraction in Nashville, the quality and scale far exceed expectations—you’re essentially getting admission to a world-class botanical garden.
Garden Conservatory at the Gaylord Opryland
📍 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
