Bellingrath Gardens and Homes - Theodore, AL - a private home that is now open for the public to enjoy its beauty

The site of the Bellingrath Gardens and Homes was purchased during 1917 by Walter Bellingrath for a fishing camp. Bellingrath was the President of the bottling plant for Coca Cola that was located in Mobile. Architect George Bigelow Rogers and Mrs. Bellingrath started the development of the gardens during 1927. The house which covers 10,500 square feet with handmade brick that was salvaged from the Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont Birthplace was finished during 1935. The ironwork was gotten from the Southern Hotel.

The Bellingrath Gardens and Home are made up of the mansion and gardens that are located on the Fowl River in the Mobile, Alabama suburb of Theodore. There are sixty-five acres that are open to the public each day of the year. The National Register of Historic Places listed the facility during October of 1982. The gardens are located at 12401 Bellingrath Road in Theodore, Alabama.

The facility opens at eight in the morning and closes at five in the evening each day. When Magic Christmas in Lights is being held the facility extends its hours until 9pm to accommodate visitors. There are guided tours of the historical Bellingrath Home available staring at nine in the morning with the last tickets for the tour sold at three thirty in the afternoon. The hours for the last tickets sales are extended until 7:30pm during the Magic Christmas in Lights tours.

The months of March through November there are river cruises that leave the Bellingrath Gardens and Home daily. Departure times for the Southern Belle River Cruise can be gotten by contacting the gardens directly. The original structure of the Bellingrath Gardens and Home has to be maintained to preserve the historical significance.

As a result of the preservation the Southern Bell River Cruiser and Bellingrath Home in their historical states they are not handicap accessible although the gardens are. Strollers can be left on the dock for the boat and at the entrance of the Home although they cannot be taken on the ship or in the home. Wheelchairs can be rented for a charge of $5 from the Entrance Building.

Visitors to the Bellingrath Gardens and Home are asked to allow at least one and a half to two hours for the tour of the Gardens, thirty minutes for the tour of the Bellingrath Museum Home and forty-five minutes to take the cruise. Adjacent to the Cafy and Gift Shop is the Entrance Building where tickets can be purchased. There are group discounts available for those with twenty or more people that make advanced reservations.

There are a variety of pricing packages available at the Bellingrath Gardens and Home that include that include a single tour, multiple tours or tours of all the facilities within the grounds. Additional information about the gardens, museum, cruise, pricing or directions can be obtained by contacting the facility directly to inquire. With the historical significance and beauty of the area the gardens are an ideal spot to spend the day relaxing while in Theodore, Alabama.