Callaway Gardens
17617 US-27, Hamilton, GA
Pine Mountain, GA
Thousands of acres of azaleas, woodland trails, lakes, and a glass butterfly house in the pine hills of west Georgia, a garden built to heal a worn-out land.
Callaway Gardens spreads across thousands of acres of pine woodland near Pine Mountain, in the rolling hill country of west Georgia. Part public garden, part resort, it was created in the mid-twentieth century by Cason and Virginia Callaway, who set out to restore a stretch of worn-out farmland and share its beauty, and it grew into one of the South's great garden destinations.
The gardens are famous for their spring azaleas, which bloom in vast colorful drifts through the woods, and for a glass conservatory full of free-flying tropical butterflies. Beyond the flowers, the grounds hold lakes, beaches, miles of trails, a rustic lakeside chapel, and seasonal events, so a visit can be as relaxed or as full as you like.
What Guests Love
- The glass butterfly conservatory alive with free-flying tropical butterflies
- Springtime azaleas blooming in vast drifts across the woodland
- Miles of biking and walking trails through the pine forest
- The rustic stone chapel beside a quiet lake
Worth Knowing
- The gardens are large, so plan for a full day and comfortable shoes
- Spring azalea season and the winter light display are the peak times
- Much of the site is outdoors, so dress for the weather
- Bikes and trolley rides help cover the distances across the grounds
Details
Pine Mountain, GA
Learn about Callaway Gardens
How the gardens began
In the 1930s, Cason Callaway, a textile executive, and his wife Virginia began buying up worn-out cotton land in these hills, drawn in part by a rare native azalea that grew there. They set about restoring the exhausted soil and forest, planting extensively and nurturing the land back to health.
The Callaways opened the gardens to the public in the 1950s, wanting others to experience the beauty they had rebuilt. Their vision, that a ruined landscape could be healed and shared, gives Callaway Gardens a story much like other great restoration projects, a place made beautiful again by deliberate care rather than left untouched.
The butterfly house and the flowers
The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is one of the gardens' signature attractions, a glass conservatory where thousands of tropical butterflies fly free among the plants, sometimes landing on visitors. It is a warm, humid, tropical world under glass, a striking contrast to the pine woods outside.
Spring is the flowers' great moment, when the azaleas for which the gardens are famous burst into bloom across the woodland in waves of pink, white, and red. Other seasons bring their own displays, from summer wildflowers to the horticultural center's indoor gardens, so there is always something growing.
Trails, lakes, and the chapel
Beyond the gardens proper, the grounds hold lakes with beaches, miles of biking and walking trails through the pine forest, and open spaces for recreation. The resort setting means families can spread a day across the water, the trails, and the flowers, moving between them by bike, trolley, or car.
One of the most beloved spots is the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel, a small stone chapel with stained-glass windows set beside a quiet lake, built in memory of Cason Callaway's mother. Its rustic beauty and peaceful setting make it a favorite for reflection and a popular place for weddings.
Season by season
Spring is the headline season, when the azaleas bloom and the woodland comes alive with color, drawing visitors from across the region. Summer is warm and green, ideal for the lake beaches, the trails, and the butterfly house.
Fall brings cooler air and turning leaves in the surrounding hills, while winter is famous for a large drive-through and walk-through light display that transforms the gardens into a nighttime spectacle. Each season gives the grounds a different character, so repeat visits rarely feel the same.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain
About 3 miles, a 8 minute drive
A small town at the gateway to the gardens, with a walkable main street of shops and cafes.
FDR's Little White House
About 12 miles, a 20 minute drive
The modest cottage in Warm Springs where President Franklin Roosevelt sought treatment and where he died in 1945.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park
About 5 miles, a 12 minute drive
Georgia's largest state park, with mountain overlooks, trails, and a stone pool built during the Depression era.
Wild Animal Safari
About 4 miles, a 10 minute drive
A drive-through animal park where visitors feed and view free-roaming exotic animals from their vehicles.