About

A quick description of Callaway Gardens is “an award-winning, 6,500-acre gardens, resort, and community nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in Harris County.”  But, ask anyone who knows Callaway Gardens and you’ll learn that it is so much more.

Owned by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, the site of Callaway Gardens was originally depleted cotton fields.  Cason and Virginia Callaway’s love of west-central Georgia, and passion for nature was the inspiration for the Gardens’ creation.  After much restoration of plants native to west-central Georgia, the Gardens opened on May 21, 1952, offering guests a five-mile Scenic Drive, the original nine holes of the Lake View Golf Course and the opportunity for boating on Mountain Creek Lake.

Today visitors wander through mature woodland gardens by bicycle, vehicle or on foot.  Along their path they may witness the majesty of a raptor in free flight at a Birds of Prey show; learn about birding, enjoy an art exhibit or feed a turtle  at The Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center; or see the emergence of a brand new butterfly at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center.

For those looking to be more active, Callaway Gardens offers 10 miles of paved bicycle trails; 36 holes of championship golf;10 tennis courts; 13 lakes for both fly fishing and conventional fishing.

Seasonal events also provide a reason for return visits throughout the year.  A leisurely stroll through the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl and Overlook Azalea Garden are enjoyable anytime, but the eye popping color of these two Gardens during Celebrate Spring! has made Callaway Gardens world famous.  A surprise for most guests is the Summertime opportunity to enjoy Robin Lake Beach in landlocked Pine Mountain, home to Callaway Gardens’ world’s largest, inland, manmade beach and site of the world premier Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament Memorial Day Weekend.  The Summer ends on a high-note with the Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival.  Other special events happen throughout the year including the Annual Plant Fair & Sale; Easter Eggstravaganza; Symphony on the Sand featuring the Columbus Symphony  Orchestra; The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens; Fantasy In Lights, a holiday light and sound production featuring more than eight million lights; and New Year’s Eve Celebration.  Year-round programs provide guests opportunities to explore the environment and learn more about the world around them.

Both inside and outside of the Gardens gates provides opportunities for unique shopping at themed gift shops and wonderful dining.  The Country Kitchen, inside the Callaway Gardens Country Store, serves a wonderful Southern meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The Mountain Creek Inn features the Plant Room for a Southern breakfast buffet and special events while the Vineyard Green has been upgraded from a bar to offer some great lunch and dinner options and occasional live entertainment.  The famous Gardens Restaurant, situated on the edge of Mountain Creek Lake offering a beautiful sunset view making available its delicious menu focused local, regional cuisine.  The Piedmont Grille offers breakfast, lunch and dinner while the adjacent Ironwood Lounge opens nightly at 4 pm.  For a quick meal, visit the Discovery Café inside the Gardens, Champions in the Mountain View Clubhouse and Robin Lake Beach’s Pavilion and Bar during the Summer.

When looking for a quick getaway, minus the travel time, or guests coming to town, Callaway Gardens offers a range of accommodations such as a single room at the charming Mountain Creek® Inn; a secluded one or two bedroom Southern Pine Cottage; a deluxe Mountain Creek Villa, featuring one to four bedrooms; or the luxurious Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens.   This variety of room types mixed with more than 100,000 sq. feet of meeting and function space make Callaway Gardens a wonderful location for weddings, family reunions, corporate meetings, retreats, training, and association functions.  The sales team is available at 706-663-5179 or sales@callawaygardens.com.

Through the nearly 60 years since its opening, Callaway Gardens has blossomed to offer guests a bevy of ways to spend time in nature having fun and learning at the same time.   Whether spending time with loved ones, business associates or quality time alone, Callaway Gardens offers something for everyone while fulfilling its mission of “Connecting Man and Nature in a Way that Benefits both.”