Bellingrath Gardens and Home

In 1903, Walter Bellingrath bought a Coca-Cola franchise in Mobile. Bellingrath Coca-Cola Bottling Company became very successful, making Bellingrath and his wife Bessie, who had been his company stenographer, very wealthy.



In 1917, Walter was encouraged by his doctor to buy a rundown fishing camp as a diversion from the stress of operating his Coca-Cola plant. Sugar shortages had put his Coca-Cola franchise in jeopardy because he couldn't get product to his customers. Walter liked to fish, so hopefully a little time on the water would calm his nerves.

Walter and Bessie named their fishing camp "Bell Camp" and soon began turning it into a horticultural showplace. The Bellingraths toured the best gardens in both the United States and Europe to get ideas for their property.

On a 1927 garden tour Bessie met architect and garden designer George B. Rogers. She fell in love with his ideas, so she hired him to design her gardens. Rogers worked with the Bellingraths for the next 20 years until his death in 1945.

Bessie made frequent trips throughout the South in search of camellia and azalea varieties to add to her collection. In 1932, when she thought the gardens were good enough for show, she opened them to the public.

Located on the garden property is the Bellingrath home, built in 1935. The home was constructed with hand-made brick from the Mobile birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont. The ironwork was salvaged from the Southern Hotel of Mobile, built in 1837. Covering over 10,500 square feet, the home is decorated and furnished with antiques that the Bellingraths brought home from their travels-- well, that Bessie brought home; she always waited until she was alone with the shop owner to write the check, or so the story goes.

Bessie died in 1943. Walter spent the rest of his life on the gardens. He said not long after he lost Bessie, "These gardens were my wife's dream, and I want to live to see that dream come true."

Today, Bellingrath Gardens is one of the most popular destination gardens in the United States. The gardens are famous for its azaleas - an estimated 250,000 in 200 varieties.

The gardens, massive as they are, take up only 65 acres of the property. The estate covers 905 acres, most of it has been left in its natural state. Boardwalks cross wetlands near the Fowl River, giving the visitor an up-close look at native plants, snakes, water fowl and other creatures.

There is also a riverboat, the Southern Belle, docked on the river that takes visitors to wild places that can only be viewed from the water.

The Bellingrath Home was featured on the A & E TV series, "America’s Castles." Every year since 1995 Southern Living has listed Bellingrath on their list of top three public gardens.

Spring is the season that the Bellingrath's famous azaleas are blooming, but the Gardens feature beautiful flowering plants all year long. Over 75 varieties of roses are blooming in the summer along with every other plant than can grow in the Mobile summer heat. In the fall and winter tulips, camellias, ornamental cabbage, snapdragons, and many more species provide color.

From just after Thanksgiving to New Years Eve, Bellingrath Gardens celebrates "Magic Christmas in Lights." During this time the visitor can tour the gardens at night and walk among 950 displays and 3 million lights. Another highlights of the Christmas celebration is nightly choral performances at the Bellingrath home. (Call Bellingrath for specific dates.)

Bellingrath Gardens is a little over and hour away from Gulf Shores past the Mobile exits on I-10. An optional route is via the Mobile Bay Ferry(for a fee) at Fort Morgan. The ferry takes you to Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island is 30 minutes from Bellingrath Gardens. The later route is longer, but there is more to see at Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island.

Flower Gardens That Take Your Breath Away

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