Warner Castle and the Sunken Garden are located on the corner of Mt. Hope Ave. and Reservoir Ave. and are part of Highland Park.
If you are starting near Lamberton Conservatory, head down Reservoir Ave., crossing South Ave. toward Mt. Hope Ave. Stroll around to the back of the castle and down the lawn, and there you will find the garden. It is the perfect escape from the crowds at the Lilac Festival!
A popular place for solitude
Often, there are photographers taking wedding and family photos, like anywhere in Highland Park. If you can get there when no one else is about, it’s a peaceful retreat, beautiful anytime of the year.
More information about the Warner Castle Sunken Garden
- Cost: Free
- Located in the City of Rochester (get directions)
Beyond the Sunken Garden
Warner Castle
The ability to step inside the castle is uncertain at the moment. Until late 2017, the castle was home to the Rochester Civic Garden Center, and was open for self-guided tours. The Landmark Society will be making the castle its new home in 2019.
Highland Bowl
Behind the garden, you’ll find Highland Park Bowl–an outdoor amphitheater used for summertime concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, and Movies in the Park. You can see the Highland Bowl stage in the photograph below through the trees behind the garden.
While the Ellwanger Estate is private, the garden is maintained by the Landmark Society and is periodically open to the public for special events.
Mount Hope Cemetery is a special place all year-round, but there’s something about Autumn that turns it into a virtual painting.
Highland Park was designed to be enjoyed year-round. Every pathway, every tree, every vista & every relationship between the land & water is intentional. And there is so much more to Highland than the lilacs, though they are extraordinary!
Tropical plants need tropical temperatures, so visiting Lamberton Conservatory in winter is a welcome escape from the cold!
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