ELKHART — Wellfield Botanic Gardens is hosting a grand opening of its highly anticipated Events and Visitors Center and Woodland Pavilion from 10 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5.
Wellfield will host an open house, with free admission to the public, and a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m.
As a part of Wellfield’s 20th anniversary, the Events and Visitors Center and outdoor Woodland Pavilion will provide year-round opportunities for events, rentals and education.
The milestone event marks the culmination of an extensive expansion project, further enhancing Wellfield’s role as a world-class garden destination for nature, education, and community engagement.
Wellfield Botanic Gardens’ new Events and Visitors Center Expansion Project realizes four key master plan features: a new 12,000-square-foot Visitors Center with event capacity, a small café and gift shop, and office spaces for guest services and volunteers; a Woodland Pavilion for concerts and special events for up to 800 guests; the relocation and repurposing of the existing Visitors Cottage, which opened in 2013; and much-needed 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 the Elkhart area, the organization said.
Project donors include Marlyn “Marly” Rydson (1930-2024), who made the gift in honor and memory of his wife, Laura Rydson (1939-2021), and community partners including the Community Foundation of Elkhart County and the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority and South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership.
The grand opening Saturday will allow guests to wander throughout the new Events and Visitors Center and Woodland Pavilion spaces, and guests will have the opportunity to hear about key features from Wellfield staff and volunteers. Registration is not required, and complimentary admission to the gardens is included. General parking is available onsite and overflow is available at the lot on the northeast corner of North Main Street and East Simonton Street.