FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No, we do not offer discounted memberships at this time. We are a non-profit organization and memberships are one of our main sources of funding, so we do not offer discounts on them. Our memberships are a great buy though! If you visit often or have a big family, the membership pays for itself in a few visits. Also, there are times when it is possible to win a membership through a contest, raffle, giveaway or auction we hold or an organization we collaborate with holds. To find out about our promotions, sign up to receive our emails here http://bit.ly/BCEmailSignUp and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Yes, all the grounds are stroller-friendly using a standard stroller. The hiking trails are accessible using an all-terrain stroller and certain jogging strollers that have large wheels. Here's more specific information about each of our hiking trails. The main gravel walkway is perfect for standard strollers. Fern Ridge Trail, Spicebush Trail, and Oakview Trail would be hiked best using an all-terrain/large wheel stroller. Creekside Trail is not very stroller-friendly, though not impossible to use with a stroller. There are two sets of stairs on Creekside Trail, but if you accessed the trail from near the Hoover Bridge and then just turned around and backtracked when you got to the stairs, you could enjoy that trail as well.
Non-members pay the daily general admission cost and have access to all current exhibits and areas, which change seasonally. The general admission cost ranges depending on how much there is for visitors to do. The difference for members is that they have access to the grounds outside of the normal operating hours, whereas non-members must visit within the operating hours. Both members and non-members get access to the exact same exhibits/areas, just the hours differ, and members receive free general admission. For a complete outline of how the general admission cost changes throughout the year, visit the Hours/Admission/Contact page.
We are open to the public different days & hours throughout the year. Visitors can simply pay the daily general admission cost, which also varies throughout the year, and grants access to the grounds, including all facilities, special exhibits, special presentations, gardens & hiking trails. Visit the Hours & Admission page to view the Open Hours & Admission Cost Schedule.
Pets are always welcome on our grounds, even inside the buildings. We just ask that you have them on a leash and clean up after them. Please note - Pets are prohibited from entering the two areas where our new raptors from Raptor Hallow Sanctuary are kept, as the birds are easily spooked by the dogs. These prohibited areas include the Wild Wonders Trail located off of Oakview Trail (hiking with dogs on Oakview Trail is permitted) and one of our greenhouses where some of the raptors are being kept over the winter. Keep an eye out for signs indicating that dogs are not allowed in these two areas.
Yes, we offer general use gift certificates that can be used toward general admission tickets, special event tickets, memberships, and items from our Nature Store gift shop. These gift certificates usually have an expiration date for the last day of the year. We also offer membership gift certificates that can be redeemed for an annual membership pass (even if the membership cost has increased since the gift certificate was purchased). At this time, gift certificates can be purchased in-person at our Visitor Center or can be purchased over the phone and mailed to the buyer or directly to the recipient.
Yes, you are more than welcome to take photos during your visit. Professional photographers (defined as someone paid for their services) must adhere to our Photography Agreement. Visitor photography must follow our Photography Guidelines, such as don't enter the flower beds, don't move benches or displays, etc. You can view all the visitor photography guidelines here: http://www.beechcreekgardens.org/photography-policy/. If your photos are not being taken by a professional photographer, then everyone in your group would simply be subject to our general admission cost. We also encourage you to share the photos from your visit on social media and tag us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. For professional photographers, please keep in mind that any of the fees can be passed onto your clients. Also, the permit is valid for an entire year. If you are a professional photographer, but you agree to let Beech Creek Gardens use your photos in our marketing (sometimes without photo credit, but we will always provide credit if we are able), then you may take photos on our grounds without our photography permit. Please contact our Marketing Director, Beth Karapandzich, at 330-829-7050 or via email at beth@beechcreekgardens.org to set up an arrangement before your visit so we can discuss the terms of use and gather your contact information.
We have many picnic tables throughout our grounds. Our largest group of picnic tables is located just a few yards from our parking lot. Our wildlife deck and woodland pavilion are also very close to the parking lot and visitors are more than welcome to enjoy meals in those areas as long as the areas are not being rented.
Our address is 11929 Beech St NE, Alliance, OH 44601. We are located in Washington Township, one mile east of State Route 62. Our entrance is near the intersection of Beech St NE and Oakhill Ave. Here's a link to our location on Google Maps.
We are closed on New Year's Day, Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The Visitor Center will not be open on these days and there will not be any staff in the office. For all other holidays that fall in between our events and exhibits, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Columbus Day, visitors have access to our Visitor Center, picnic areas, nature playgrounds, and hiking trails, subject to the respective general admission fee.
Beech Creek Gardens is a fun and educational destination for all ages! School-aged children and adults will love exploring the Butterfly House, Caterpillar Nursery, Amazing Garden Plant Science Center, hiking trails, botanical gardens, Gravity Glue, and picnic areas. Little ones will have a blast at our two nature playgrounds. For young children, the two nature playgrounds and the hands-on exhibits in the Amazing Garden Plant Science Center are perfect for learning and play. Teens and adults can enjoy events like Bird in Hand, Garden Symposium, Art in Bloom, summer exhibits, Critter Tuesdays, Evening in the Garden, Furry Friend Fest, the Butterfly Release Celebration, and more! There's something for everyone!
General admission from now through September 12 is $9 per person for ages 3 & older. Ages 2 & younger and members are free. General admission grants you access to all available areas and exhibits, so currently, that includes access to the Butterfly House, Caterpillar Nursery, Raptor Hallow Sanctuary Wild Wonders, Amazing Garden Plant Science Center, Nature Playce playground, Logs O' Fun playground, beautiful botanical gardens, picnic areas, hiking trails, and the Nature Store/Visitor Center. There is no general admission cost to shop the plant sales or the Nature Store. For more information, visit the Hours/Admission web page.
The general admission cost changes seasonally depending on how much there is for visitors to do. For a complete outline of how the general admission cost changes throughout the year, view the General Admission Cost Schedule on the Hours & Admission web page. The general admission cost grants you access to all current exhibits and available areas.
No, there is one general admission cost which grants you access to all current exhibits and available areas. The general admission cost changes seasonally depending on how much there is for visitors to do. For a complete outline of how the general admission cost changes throughout the year and what areas are available, view the General Admission Cost Schedule on the Hours & Admission web page.
Occasionally, we offer special promotions for discounted admission and certain events we hold may offer free admission, like our Carnation Days activities each August. Visitors age 65 & older can receive a senior discount of $1 off the current admission price (senior visitors must request this discount when purchasing admission passes - we do not assume a visitor's age). Visitors can also save on admission costs by purchasing a membership. This is a great option for visitors who come often or have a large family. Members receive free year-round general admission and discounts on special event tickets, workshops, camp, facility rentals, and 10% off gift shop and plant purchases. For more information about becoming a member, visit our Membership web page.
We are an independent non-profit organization. We do not receive tax dollars or regularly occurring financial support from any other entity. As our organization continues to grow, it is crucial that we generate enough revenue to cover our increasing operating expenses. We rely heavily on admission revenue, membership dues, charitable grants, donations, and fundraisers to continue the programs and events we offer to the community. Admission revenue is our main source of funding, and admission & membership combined contribute to more than half of our overall annual revenue which is why these two revenue streams are vital to our existence. As a visitor, your support is indispensable to our nonprofit, and please know that you are helping sustain our organization so that we can continue carrying out our very important mission of providing people & pets with educational and recreational opportunities, while preserving lands, and inspiring others to help protect our natural habitats for future generations. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Yes, you may bring food & drinks into our botanical garden during your visit. You may bring snacks, takeout meals, or a picnic. We have many picnic tables throughout our grounds. Our largest group of picnic tables is located just a few yards from our parking lot. Our wildlife deck and woodland pavilion are also very close to the parking lot and visitors are more than welcome to enjoy meals in those areas as long as the areas are not being rented. Our public water fountains are currently not available due to COVID-19, so we encourage visitors to bring their own water & drinks during this time. We also have pre-packaged snacks and beverages for sale in our Visitor Center, such as chips, cookies, crackers, fruits snacks, bottled water, soda, and tea. Please note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the grounds except for renters within our rental facilities with prior permission.
You have questions and we have answers! Click on the question category, then use the drop downs to find answers. If you still have questions, please call (330) 829-7050 or email info@beechcreekgardens.org.