In 1916, New York City lawyer Samuel Untermyer tasked architect William Bosworth with designing the "finest garden in the world" on his cliffside estate in Yonkers, New York — he succeeded, and for 40 years, this 150-acre formal garden became a horticultural wonder of America, and the world. Though by the 1970s, one of America's most beautiful green spaces had regressed into one of its most neglected, littered with abandoned buildings and crumbling ruins — any hints of its former greatness could only be found in local folklore.

While many restoration efforts throughout the years were unsuccessful, the latest initiative has finally bucked the trend, and given the once-great garden a second life — now's your chance to explore America’s greatest forgotten garden, and overlook the epic Hudson River with some wine-in-hand, just as Samuel Untermyer would have done over 100 years ago.

Join New York Adventure Club for an exclusive tour and reception at Untermyer Gardens, the formal gardens designed for Samuel Untermyer's Greystone Estate in 1916, which became one of the most celebrated gardens in America.

Led by expert docents of The Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, which began restoring Samuel Untermyer’s gardens in 2011, our unique experience at this cliffside Persian "paradise" garden will include:

• The story of Samuel Untermyer, the prominent New York lawyer and investor who purchased the Greystone Estate in an 1899 auction and transformed the grounds into one of the finest gardens in the world
• An overview of Untermyer Gardens, from the 1916 design by Beaux-Arts architect Welles Bosworth, to its heyday when 60 full-time gardeners were on staff, to the successful modern restoration efforts after decades of failed revival initiatives
• A guided exploration of the stunning grounds including the Walled Garden's reflecting pools, mosaic pavements, and marble sphinxes; the Temple of Love's round temple on top of a rocky bluff and waterfall; and the jaw-dropping Vista, which features sweeping views of the Hudson River, framed by two 23-foot-tall Roman columns (believed to be the tallest ancient columns made from single stone chunks in the Western Hemisphere)
• Exclusive access to scale one of the Walled Garden towers for a birds-eye view of the property
• An intimate wine reception with stunning views of the Temple of Love and Hudson River

Your ticket to this unique affair will include a private group tour of Untermyer Gardens followed by a wine reception overlooking the Hudson.

See you there!

*This ticket does not include transportation — please see below for more details

**Please wear comfortable shoes as we'll be on our feet for the duration of the experience

***While snacks will be provided during the reception, we recommend eating beforehand or afterward (dining options recommended in order confirmation email) 

****Portions of the garden are only accessible by stairs or moderate inclines, with the exception of the Walled Garden

*****This outdoor event takes place in light rain or shine. In the chance of dangerous weather conditions, the experience will be postponed or cancelled.

Transportation:

*Please double check train departure times the day before as schedules can shift due to track work

By Public Transit: 

Take the Hudson Line Metro-North Train departing from Grand Central Terminal and disembark at either Yonkers Station — if you'd prefer to take a 10-minute cab/uber ride to Untermyer Gardens — or Greystone station, if you're comfortable walking 20 minutes uphill to the gardens. See this map for the exact walking route from Greystone Station: https://goo.gl/maps/9PCecDXLNy6S2oTp7.

Metro-North tickets can now be purchased via your smartphone — click here for more details. 

Trains from Greystone and Yonkers Station depart for GCT roughly every 30 minutes.

By Car: 

Free parking is available in the two small lots next to the community center at Untermyer. If those are full, street parking is available along North Broadway, which is both metered (coin-operated) and unmetered.

Additional directions and travel options can be found on the Untermyer Gardens website.

Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Must be 21 or older to consume alcoholic beverages during reception. ID will be checked.

Ticket price is for educational tour with complimentary snacks and beverages.

Categories: In-Person, Activities