2024’s theme at Wellfield is the Year of Fresh Perspectives (#FreshPerspectives). When you visit, you’ll notice big changes are happening! In July of 2023, we began construction of our Events and Visitors Center Expansion Project. The $14m Project realizes four key master plan features—a new 12,000 sq.ft. Visitors Center with event capacity, Open Air Pavilion, relocation and repurposing of the existing Visitors Cottage, and increased parking capacity. These features will provide not only a transformational guest experience with necessary infrastructure and amenities, financial sustainability for the future, and increased mission-effectiveness, but also deliver increased quality of place and promote economic development of our area.
For more information, visit: https://www.wellfieldproject.com/ 

Watch the time lapse of the Visitor’s Cottage moving to its new home to accommodate the construction of our Events and Visitors Center parking lot in early January of 2024.

To read our media release regarding the public phase of the capital campaign and learn how you can help, CLICK HERE. And here’s a link to a story our local CBS affiliate did in September: WSBT 9/7/23 Feature

We will try to make this project as comfortable for our guests as possible, but anyone who’s done a remodeling project knows it’s not always easy and things at the entrance to the Gardens will look different for a while. Once you’re inside and past the construction, it’s the same place you know and love. We promise, the end result will be worth it!

When you visit:

Parking
We are open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. You will be directed through a temporary entrance, Gate D, located immediately south about 150 yards of our permant parking lot entrance on Main Street. Parking onsite will be limited and on busier (i.e. sunny and warmer) days you may need to utilize our overflow parking at the NE corner of Main & Simonton. From there, it’s a short walk on the sidewalk along Main Street to enter toward The Cottage. 

Entry / Exit
Entry to the Gardens will be indicated with signage as you approach, and the same friendly faces you’re used to will greet you when you visit.

Accessibility
Due to construction, some of our paths have changed. Our staff and volunteers will help guide you to what’s happening on the day you visit. Visit our Facebook page to see up-to-date information.

Wellfield Project Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the project take?
As with any construction project, our timeline is an estimate and is subject to change. However, our construction partner DJ Construction is targeting mid-November 2024. Our new parking lot (a part of the project we’re ALL looking forward to!) will be completed in phases throughout 2024.

What Happened to the Visitors Cottage?
Our Visitors Cottage, which opened in April 2013 was always intended to be a temporary entrance to the Gardens. It has acted as our “little engine that could” for much longer than any of us expected – those doors have welcomed more than three-quarters of a million guests and endured many bumps from strollers through the years!

“The Cottage”, as we now call it, was moved southwest approximately 150 feet in January 2024. The Cottage will remain the entrance/exit to/from the Gardens throughout construction, until our new Visitors Center is ready for its debut!

Future uses for The Cottage will include education classes/programs, a tour-gathering space, rental space for weddings and events, and meeting space for small groups interested in renting the building for meetings or activities.

We appreciate your understanding during this exciting time in our history, and we’re looking forward to the future with a new and improved guest experience, indoor rental facilities, improved amenities for our members, volunteers and guests, and a well crafted experience for all.

Any questions, comments or media inquiries may be directed to: info@wellfieldgardens.org