Sunken Gardens

About This Location

Sunken Gardens

History: Sunken Gardens is located at West Park Drive and Dimond Street and is part of Memorial Park. Sometime between 1914 and 1920 the Keefer and Bailey Lime, Brick, Tile and Cement Company abandoned its quarry in Huntington. The quarry became quite an eyesore until 1923 when the proposal was made to convert it into a sunken garden.

The Chicago Landscape Company created a plan for the site that transformed it into a naturalistic and informal setting with plantings, footbridges, fountains, fieldstone staircases and a horseshoe-shaped pool. The 1.5-acre multi-level site included limestone walls, three different entrances and an automobile-related fieldstone bridge.

Construction of Sunken Gardens began in 1923 and lasted until 1929, when in November of that year it was featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Originally dedicated in 1924, the park flourished in Huntington for many years. However, time and the lack of money caused the Gardens to lose their luster until the city took on a revitalization project from 1964 to 1967 to restore the gardens.

The former quarry's natural, rough-hewn stonewalls provided a living amphitheater, which architects incorporated in the designing of the ponds, walks, bridges, flowers and foliage. Today, the addition of a Christmas light display during the winter season has attracted thousands to this multi-level garden. In 2010, a grant provided funds for the restoration of the historic stonework, and Sunken Gardens continues to be a respected landmark of restored beauty and community pride.

Sunken Gardens is available for daily rentals and has been a popular site for many weddings, special events and memorable moments over the years.