The Sunken Gardens are four acres (1.6 hectares) of well-established botanical gardens located at 1825 4th Street North in St. Petersburg, FL, in the Historic Old Northeast area. This roadside tourist attraction has been in operation for more than a century, making it one of the country’s most historic roadside attractions. The Gardens are presently managed by the City of St. Petersburg and are kept in good condition by volunteers who donate their time. The Sunken Gardens are open to the public on a daily basis, seven days a week. To gain entry into the gardens, visitors must pay an admission fee; however, an annual membership is also available.
Although no longer in operation, Sunken Gardens retains its historical significance as an important example of a 1930s Florida roadside commercial attraction, and it is likely the oldest commercial tourist attraction on Florida’s west coast. In addition to educational programs, tours, and special events such as weddings, which have been held on the Wedding Lawn for decades as well as in the banquet facilities in the Garden Room, which overlooks the unique garden setting, the Gardens are open to the public.
After purchasing six acres of land in 1903, which included a tiny lake 10 feet (3.0 meters) below sea level, plumber and ardent gardener George Turner drained the water to create his own private “sunken” garden. Turner began cultivating papayas and citrus fruits, as well as other exotic plants, in the rich soil that surrounds his home and his property.
The grounds were accessible for tourists to stroll through by the 1920s, when Turner created a nursery and began selling fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Visitors were charged a nickel to stroll through the gardens. In the fall of 1935, he walled in his garden and began charging an access fee of 24 cents per person to enter. The Gardens ultimately gained widespread popularity, and from the 1950s to the 1970s, they were consistently named among the top 10 commercial attractions in Florida. In 1961, after Turner’s death, his two sons, Ralph and George Jr., took over the management of the gardens, which were subsequently passed on to Ralph and George’s three sons. They eventually sold it to the city in 1999 for a total of more than $2.26 million dollars.
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