About
Formerly a private estate, Van Vleck House & Gardens is owned by The Montclair Foundation. These private gardens are open to the public daily free of charge.
The gardens are open to the public daily, free of charge. Donations are appreciated.
Hours: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm daily.
North Mountain Avenue gates close at 6:00 pm.
There are some guest parking spots available in the parking lot; additional street parking is available on Van Vleck Street, Upper Mountain Avenue and North Mountain Avenue.
Mission
Van Vleck House and Gardens is a nonprofit committed to the historic preservation of its early 20th century house, an exemplar of classical Mediterranean Revival architecture, and its diverse gardens, for the education, cultural enrichment and enjoyment of the community.
History
Three generations of the Van Vleck family lived on the property and developed the gardens for over 130 years. The main house that now graces the Van Vleck grounds was designed and built in 1916
Link to: Bloom List
This Week In Bloom
Winter is here and it brings with it many changes to our wonderful gardens and plantings. Click here to see what’s “in bloom” in the gardens this week.
Recent Reviews
Peter Thompson
12:48 07 Dec 19
Beautiful estate in the middle of Montclair. The grounds are compact, but very pretty, with a wide... array of flowers and landscaped shrubs.
This self-guided, walking garden is about 2 acres, I'd guess, and it is free to tour. It isn't large, but you want good footwear because most of the the paths are unpaved or uneven. Most of it is NOT wheelchair or walker friendly.
There are benches scattered in the grounds with shady spots to sit on sunny days. This is one of those hidden gems, good for an hour or so, or to sit and read a book.read more
Tres Williams
05:01 07 Sep 19
We are lucky to have Van Vleck House & Gardens in Montclair! Such a peaceful place to wander, enjoy... a picnic or relax with the family. They also offer a schedule of classes and workshops for children and adults.read more
Joshua South
15:59 28 Aug 19
Never realized how large the property was. Not to many flowers, but the green lush landscape makes... up for it. Everything is marked to read or you can have a description told to you over your phone. There is no fee, but they do take donations. Can't wait to go back in the spring to see the Wisteria on the house. If you want to see what a great estate home and landscaping looks like visit the Van Vleck House and Gardens. A beautiful home and gardens to relax and spend some time in nature and beauty. .read more
Tony P
16:47 19 Aug 19
Smallish and free to visit botanical garden. Like other gardens I have been to the time of visit is... important. I saw only a few flowering plants on this visit but imagine it would be quite a bit more impressive during peak blooming times. Can't complain as it is donations only but expect you can spend an hour or two maybe here. Guessing they might also hold events on the grounds but can't be sure.read more
Vinny Desimone
15:44 18 Aug 19
The Van Vleck House is absolutely gorgeous, the building looks so beautiful and the garden is... really pretty. They run classes through the Montclair museum and they raise butterflies to release in the butterfly garden. This is also open to the public so you can go and take a nice walk around and see all the flowers l.read more
Pete Thompson
22:46 15 Aug 19
Great garden for an hour or so. It's small, but packed with a wide assortment of flowers. We were... here in mid-August, so many perenials were done blooming. Still, they have lots of hedge & shrub specimens.
There are lots of benches scattered throughout the grounds for quiet enjoyment. The house was closed to the public, but it looked pretty through the windows.
The grounds are mostly flat or gentle slopes that are easy to handle for anyone who walks. My 90 year old mom was able to make the walk through the gardens with a hand to help balance her over some of the lawn area. The walkways were no problem for her with a cane, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who needs a wheelchair; the pathways are wide enough, but the cobblestones will be jarring to anyone in a wheelchair.
Really pretty garden that functions entirely on donations and charges ZERO admission fee. Perfect for a quick visit and a small donation to help support them.read more
Thomas Roberts
01:13 18 Jul 19
Beautiful scenic botanical garden with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Highly recommend for... couples looking to relaxread more
Emma Germanotta
12:25 05 Jul 19
Such a unique and beautiful place. The flower varieties are very vast and theres lots of places to... explore. There are hidden butterfly motifs around, including the way certain gardens are planted. There is a greenhouse for you to freely tour, and a piano in the van block house is often played while you browse the garden. Great place to be with family or friendsread more
Judy Ryan Hall
22:00 23 Jun 19
I love the gardens. I've lived in Montclair for 21 years and went more often when the kids were... little. It was a nice place for our book club to meet.read more
Lisa Kondracki
21:23 04 Jun 19
Quaint Italian villa with sprawling gardens. Beautiful Chinese wisteria tree that's over 100years... old - it's amazing to see how it was trained to wrap around the pillars.read more
Jim Davis
16:51 19 May 19
This place is a must see. Truly a hidden gem in Montclair. The mansion and gardens here are just... stunningly beautiful. There is such a tremendous variety of flowers, flowering bushes and trees, and other flora! There is a donation box located adjacent to the mansion, requesting a suggested $5 donation, but it is up to you. Amazing place!read more
Nathan Allen
17:48 14 May 19
A beautiful garden tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Walking around leads you to... hidden trails, blooming flowers, and bubbling fountains. Even on a gloomy day the gardens are sure to bring you peace and tranquility.read more
Esthefany Vidal
20:07 09 May 19
Beautiful green and a lot of flowers garden!! Peaceful. Great spot to read a book or study. Also... great for yoga and meditation is nice and quiet.read more
We look forward to welcoming your wedding party or family to a private photography shoot here at Van Vleck House & Gardens.
In preparation for your visit, please contact us to check availability, complete the application, and note the guidelines and fees that will apply to your shoot.
Support your community
Your Support
We are counting on you! Please join us in creating the Van Vleck of the Future
Your gift will help make this extraordinary property an enduring resource for our community and future generations.
The Gardens are open to the public year-round, free of charge.
Come experience this most precious gift!
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