Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

Maclay Gardens is situated on an area of land called the Lafayette Township Grant. The grant dates back to 1825 when the U.S. Congress presented the French General Lafayette with $200,000 and 23,000 acres in West Florida for his contributions during the Revolutionary War. In 1923, a wealthy banker and financier from New York named Alfred B. Maclay made a journey down south with his wife Louise. Maclay found himself in awe of the magnificent oak, pine, and holly trees, and he promptly made the decision to build a winter home in Tallahassee, to be completed with luscious gardens. Originally, the property, including a historic home built in 1909 and the gardens the Maclays planted, were a part of Killearn Gardens and Plantation, named after a Scottish village where Maclay's great-grandfather, the Reverend Archibald Maclay, was born.

Alfred B. Maclay passed away in 1944. Nine years later, Louise Maclay and their children expressed their wish that the gardens be opened to the public and remain a memorial to her husband and his vision. In 1953, the gardens were donated to the state of Florida and were soon thereafter made available to the public. The 307-acre property became the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in 1965. The Alfred B. Maclay Gardens remains one of the most ornamental gardens in the state, also featuring a brick pathway, a reflection pool, both a walled and secret garden, and a wide variety of other flowers. Maclay Gardens features more than 150 types of camellias, as well as approximately 50 kinds of azaleas. Towering above the flowers are gorgeous pine and oak trees, as well as bountiful dogwoods and redbuds. When visitors first enter the park they see Lake Hall, featuring a boat ramp and a beach recreation area. The lake features an abundance of wildlife, such as: alligators, waterfowls, turtles, and plenty of freshwater fish like bluegill and largemouth bass.

In addition to the recreation area at Lake Hall, Maclay Gardens also features beautiful trails for hiking, horse-back riding, and bicycling. The nonprofit Friends of Maclay Gardens was established to support the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. The community-based group strives to raise money for crucial historic preservation and restoration projects and enhances public knowledge on the history of the gardens. Friends of Maclay Gardens hosts events annual events for children and families. The historic Maclay home is only open for tours during the high blooming season, which runs from January to April. Maclay Gardens is a floral masterpiece in the historic Killearn Plantation and Archaeological Historic District.

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park: History, Florida State Parks. Accessed January 31st 2021. https://www.floridastateparks.org/MaclayGardens/history.

Scratches, Kat. Rollin' and Strollin' at Maclay Gardens State Park, April 23rd 2017. Accessed February 1st 2021. http://www.themountainlioness.com/2017/04/fl-state-parks-quest-rollin-and.html.

About Friends of Maclay Gardens, Friends of Maclay Gardens. Accessed February 1st 2021. https://friendsofmaclaygardens.org/about/.

Pichard, Brent. General Lafayette Would Be Proud, Tallahassee Reports. August 4th 2014. Accessed February 6th 2021. https://tallahasseereports.com/2014/08/04/general-lafayette-would-be-proud/.

Maclay State Gardens, Absolutely Florida. Accessed February 8th 2021. http://www.abfla.com/parks/MaclayGardens/maclaygardens.html.