Last updated on 13 June 12
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Kykuit Garden

4.3/5 (3 ratings)

East Façade. Photograph © Historic Hudson Valley
Swimming Pool Terrace. Photograph © Historic Hudson Valley

Gardenvisit Editorial

The Kykuit garden was begun by the oil billionnaire John D. Rockefeller and served as a Rockefeller family summer retreat from 1913 to 1991. Kykuit (pronounced 'cake-8') means 'lookout' in Dutch and it has fine views over the magnificent scenery of the Hudson Valley. Rockefeller commissioned Olmsted Brothers for the design but was not happy with their work and began laying out walks and doing his own planting. He then asked the landscape architect William Welles Bosworth designed formal gardens near the house. Today, the garden is a fine American example of the Mixed Style. There are terraces, a semicircular rose garden, fountains, the Temple of Aphrodite and a notable collection of modern sculpture (including works by Henry Moore and Pable Picasso). There is a Morning Garden, a Grand Staircase, a Japanese Garden, an Italian Garden, a Temple of Aphrodite, an Italian loggia, and a semicircular rose garden.

Address - Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate, Pocantico Hills, Tarrytown, New York, USA, NY 10591
Opening times - Mid May to early November. Wednesday to Monday.
Admission - Entrance fee
Website - Visit the Kykuit Garden website

Local Hotels

Hotels within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

SpringHill Suites Tarrytown Greenburgh (2km away)
From $119.00 to $209.00
Castle on the Hudson (2km away)
From $235.00 to $380.00
Courtyard Tarrytown Greenburgh (2km away)
From $119.00 to $259.00
Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown (3km away)
From $97.30 to $289.00
Westchester Marriott (3km away)
From $149.00 to $279.00
Tarrytown House (4km away)
From $97.30 to $259.00
AKA White Plains (8km away)
From $150.00 to $205.00
Ardsley Acres Hotel Court (8km away)
From $65.00 to $84.95

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Lyndhurst Garden (4km away)
(2.0/5)
Donald M Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo (12km away)
(5.0/5)
Bartlett Arboretum Gardens (20km away)
Wave Hill Garden (21km away)
(4.5/5)
The Cloisters Gardens (25km away)
New York Botanical Garden (25km away)
Fort Tryon Park Garden (26km away)

Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

11 months ago billy myers said
You go here for the house. We did get to see the second floor. Again, the gardens are manned by volunteers and in dire need of basic maintenance. Most of the roses were gone or dead from black spot. There were a few beds freshly planted with a some annuals. Maybe one day it will get there. It does have potential, but I doubt it will ever be great.

(3.0/5)
almost 5 years ago Fantastic said
Marvelous House. Wonderful. Granted we only got to see the first floor since second floor was non-admitance due to the family staying there.
Wonderful architecture and gardens!

(5.0/5)
over 5 years ago Janice said
A must visit. Spectacular house, grounds, and sculpture. Try to see the Union Church of Pocantico Hills nearby, which has the beautiful Chagall windows.

(5.0/5)

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