Wander the Gardens and Cheekwood Estate
Visit Cheekwood Estate and Gardens this Year
If you are searching for one of the most beautiful places to visit in Nashville, Cheekwood Estate and Gardens belongs at the top of the list. Tucked into 55 rolling acres on the western edge of the city, this historic estate pairs a Gilded Age mansion filled with world-class art with some of the finest botanical gardens in the South. Whether you are a history buff, a garden lover, or simply planning one of the most romantic places to visit in Music City, Cheekwood earns its reputation as one of the best things to do in Nashville.
Cheekwood sits about eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville, far enough from the Broadway crowds to feel like a genuine escape. Tickets are required for entry, with separate options for garden-only access or garden-plus-mansion access, plus a small parking fee per vehicle. Once your ticket is sorted, the only thing left to plan is where to stay, and a bed and breakfast in Nashville with its own sense of history makes the day feel complete rather than just a stop on a list.
The History Behind Cheekwood Estate
Long before it became a botanical garden, Cheekwood was a private family home built on a fortune made in coffee. The story starts with Christopher Cheek, who launched a wholesale grocery business in Nashville in the 1880s. His son, Leslie Cheek, took the family into the coffee trade, and a cousin’s blend eventually became the iconic Maxwell House brand. When Maxwell House’s parent company sold to General Foods in 1928, Leslie Cheek used his share to build something extraordinary.
Family legend says Leslie met his future wife, Mabel Wood, on a train ride from New York to Nashville. After they married, Leslie purchased 100 acres of woodland west of the city and hired New York architect Bryant Fleming to design a grand country estate, giving him total creative control down to the furniture. The couple traveled to England to source antiques for the home, reportedly filling four railroad boxcars for the journey back.
Construction ran from 1929 to 1932, producing a 30,000-square-foot Georgian-style limestone mansion inspired by 18th-century English manor houses. Leslie Cheek passed away just two years after moving in, and the home stayed in the family for two more decades. In the late 1950s, his daughter Huldah and her husband gifted the estate to the public, and Cheekwood officially opened as a botanical garden and art museum in 1960. Today it holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the finest surviving Country Place Era estates.
Things to Do at Cheekwood Gardens
With 13 distinct gardens, a 1.5-mile woodland sculpture trail, and a full art museum inside the mansion, it is easy to spend an entire afternoon at Cheekwood Estate. A few highlights worth building a visit around:
- The Botanical Garden and Arboretum. Themed gardens showcase everything from daffodils and dogwoods to a dedicated Japanese garden and a beloved wildflower garden.
- The Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail. A woodland path dotted with contemporary outdoor sculpture, ideal for a quiet, unhurried walk.
- The historic mansion. Period-furnished rooms and gallery spaces include the William Edmondson collection, the largest anywhere in the world by the self-taught Nashville artist, along with rotating exhibitions.
- Seasonal festivals. Cheekwood in Bloom each spring, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest in fall, and the widely loved Holiday LIGHTS display in winter, along with concerts on the grounds throughout the year.
- The Perenn Cafe. The estate’s on-site restaurant is a lovely spot for lunch, or take a picnic out into the gardens instead.
Most guests plan for at least two hours on the grounds, though it is easy to lose track of time and stay much longer.
Why Belle Air Mansion Is the Perfect Place to Stay
After a day spent wandering the gardens of one beautifully preserved Nashville estate, there is something fitting about coming home to another. Belle Air Mansion is a romantic bed and breakfast in Nashville set on six private acres and centered on a lovingly restored 19th-century antebellum home. Like Cheekwood, our estate has its own story of restoration and preservation, and staying here means experiencing that same sense of Southern history up close rather than just visiting for an afternoon.
You will find uniquely appointed rooms across the Mansion, Retreat House, and Cottage, each designed for a romantic getaway, with no two alike. Every morning brings a delicious plated breakfast served in the dining room or on the outdoor veranda, included with every reservation. Relax on the outdoor porches or in the cozy parlor to wind down after a day of sightseeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cheekwood in Nashville?
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens sits about eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville, set apart from the busier downtown attractions.
What is Cheekwood in Nashville?
Cheekwood is a historic estate turned public botanical garden and art museum, built as a private home in the early 1930s and opened to the public in 1960.
How many acres is Cheekwood?
The estate spans 55 rolling acres, including 13 distinct gardens and a 1.5-mile woodland sculpture trail.
When was Cheekwood built?
Construction on the Georgian-style limestone mansion ran from 1929 to 1932, with the estate opening to the public as a garden and museum in 1960.
What is there to do at Cheekwood?
Visitors can explore themed botanical gardens, walk the sculpture trail, tour the historic mansion’s art collection, and dine at the on-site Perenn Cafe, with seasonal festivals held throughout the year.