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Here are a few common questions that we hope will enhance your visit and enjoyment of The Garden of the Groves. What is the Garden of the Groves? What is there to see at the Garden of the Groves? How long does it take to walk around? Is the Garden of the Groves a national park/state funded/funded by the Groves family? Is the Garden wheelchair accessible? Does the Garden have wheelchairs to rent or lend? What kinds of citrus/fruits/olives are there in the groves? Can we sample the fruit? Can we take pictures standing under the falls? Are the waterfalls real? Are there senior/AA/AARP/affiliate garden/group/resident/student discounts? Are there poisonous snakes/spiders in the Garden? Is there somewhere to buy a drink or get a snack? Does the Café have vegetarian options? How do I go about arranging a wedding at the Garden of the Groves? Can I take wedding pictures in the Garden if I am not married there? What is there for children to do? What are the membership benefits? Do you accept donations? Can I donate a bench or a plant in honour of a loved one?
What is the Garden of the Groves?
The Garden of the Groves is a twelve-acre park dedicated in 1973 to Mr. Wallace Groves and his wife Georgette. Mr. Groves was the founder of the city of Freeport. ^TOP^ What is there to see at the Garden of the Groves?
Interpretive signs highlight this lush tropical landscape with trees and flowers from the Bahamas and around the world. You will find a replica of the original chapel from the early logging days, tranquil lagoons with cascading waterfalls, a spiritual Labyrinth for meditation and an open-air cafe deck. Walk down into the cool fern grove and marvel at the magnificent limestone boulders that tower to both sides of your trail. The Garden Shoppes offer a variety of unique souvenir items made in the Bahamas as well as novelty Bahamian souvenirs. In the family area, children will be able to enjoy a magnificent cedar playset. ^TOP^ How long does it take to walk around?
Allow three hours to stroll around the Garden, to walk and meditate at the labyrinth, to visit the shops and have a drink or lunch at the Café. ^TOP^ Is the Garden of the Groves a national park/state funded/funded by the Groves family?
The Park is privately operated and funded by admission and membership fees as well as donations from the Grand Bahama community and visitors alike. ^TOP^ Is the Garden wheelchair accessible? Does the Garden have wheelchairs to rent or lend?
The main trails of the park as well as the bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. There are numerous benches for persons needing to sit periodically. The Garden does not have wheelchairs to lend or to rent. ^TOP^ What kinds of citrus/fruits/olives are there in the groves? Can we sample the fruit?
The name “Groves” comes from Mr. Groves, in whose honour the Garden was dedicated. There are no citrus or olive groves however, there are tropical fruit trees throughout the park including tamarinds, coconuts, bananas, guavas, sapodillas, mangos, mammee, java plums, cherries, pineapples and avocados. Seasonally, these plants are in fruit, however, it is forbidden to pick any fruit or flowers in the Garden. When fruits are available, they may be included on the café menu either as a salad ingredient (avocados) or as a frozen drink flavouring (bananas, coconuts, pineapples etc). ^TOP^ Can we take pictures standing under the falls? Are the waterfalls real?
There are many lovely vistas and sites within the Garden for photo taking, many of which are in front of the waterfalls and fountains. Swimming in the lagoons and standing under the falls are strictly prohibited. The waterfalls and fountains are man-made features. In addition to serving an aesthetic purpose, they also contribute towards maintaining a healthy ecosystem to encourage and foster our wildlife. The waters in the lagoons are kept in motion to inhibit mosquito breeding and to reduce algal bloom thus negating the need for chlorine and other products that would be harmful to the fish, turtles and birds who rely on the pure, clean fresh water for sustenance. The fountains serve to oxygenate the water and to assist the circulation of the water in the lagoons. ^TOP^ Are there senior/AA/AARP/affiliate garden/group/resident/student discounts?
Group and resident rates are available. Please inquire at the ticket booth at the entrance. The Garden has no reciprocal agreements with other gardens nor any affiliation with any motor clubs or non-Bahamian organisations. ^TOP^ Are there poisonous snakes/spiders in the Garden?
No. Throughout the park you may see a spider in its web, however, the spiders are harmless. There are no poisonous snakes in the Bahamas. The snakes are also antisocial so you are not likely to see a snake in the Garden. ^TOP^ Is there somewhere to buy a drink or get a snack?
The Garden Café is open during park operating hours with the exception of Friday nights when last meal orders are taken at 9:00pm. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available daily. ^TOP^ Does the Café have vegetarian options?
Yes, there are many vegetarian choices, some of which may contain cheese. Kindly advise the server if you have certain dietary restrictions. ^TOP^ How do I go about arranging a wedding at the Garden of the Groves?
You may send an e-mail to
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or telephone on 242-374-7778. ^TOP^ Can I take wedding pictures in the Garden if I am not married there?
Yes, but you are kindly asked to prearrange this. You may send an e-mail to
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or telephone on 242-374-7778 to secure the date. ^TOP^ What is there for children to do?
In the family area, children can enjoy a magnificent cedar playset. There are a variety of birds, fish, turtles, flowers etc, that capture the attention and imagination of children. The Garden Café has a special children’s menu as well as frozen treats. We also offer guided tours for school groups. Please telephone the Garden on 242-374-7778 to book your group. ^TOP^ What are the membership benefits? - Free admission to the Gardens
- Free guided tours
- Discounted movie & event entry fees
- Discounted entry to outdoor theatre productions & concerts
- Preferential use of facility and discounted rates on facility site fee for private functions. (Weddings, Parties, etc.)
- Members only plant sales
- Members only celebrations
- Unrestricted restaurant & bar access
- Free birdwatching course
- Discounted entry to gardening workshops
- Monthly guided bird walk
- Unrestricted access to chapel and labyrinth for meditation and spiritual renewal
- Guided meditations at labyrint ^TOP^
Do you accept donations? Can I donate a bench or a plant in honour of a loved one?
We welcome donations and sponsorship of park benches, chapel pews, garden pots, etc. In an effort to maintain uniformity, we prefer that you allow us to purchase the bench on your behalf. We place an engraved plaque on the bench in honour of your family or loved one. We happily accept donations of plants and plant pots as well as the labour to care for certain areas of the Garden. From time to time, we have various projects for which we may require special sponsorship. Kindly indicate your desire to be a part of the Garden’s development and we will share with you our ideas and current needs. Thank you for your willingness to assist. ^TOP^
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