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Press Release: WELLFIELD BOTANIC GARDENS NAMED #1 BOTANICAL GARDEN IN UNITED STATES

  • Writer: Jennifer Tan
    Jennifer Tan
  • 15 hours ago
  • 2 min read


Elkhart’s nonprofit garden outscores 407 public gardens nationwide, earning the country’s highest visitor satisfaction rating


ELKHART, Ind. – Wellfield Botanic Gardens is proud to announce it has been ranked the #1 botanical garden in the United States in a new national study released by outdoor apparel brand KÜHL. The study evaluated 407 public gardens across the country based on visitor review scores and sentiment analysis, and Wellfield came out on top — ahead of far larger and more widely known institutions from coast to coast.


Wellfield earned an overall score of 95.9 out of 100 across more than 1,000 visitor reviews, along with the highest positive sentiment score in the entire analysis at 96.6%. To qualify for consideration, gardens were required to have at least 500 recent reviews — meaning Wellfield's ranking reflects a sustained, meaningful pattern of visitor satisfaction, not a handful of outlying opinions.


"Wellfield's top ranking shows that exceptional botanical experiences aren't limited to major metros," said Sarah Scott of KÜHL. "Small-town gardens can compete with the best." The results were featured in coverage by CBS 19 News and The Roam Report, both noting that the rankings defied expectations: Indiana outranked New York, and Iowa finished ahead of California.


Wellfield Botanic Gardens sits on 36 acres in Elkhart, Indiana — nearly half of which is water — on a property that has served as the city's source of hydraulic energy and drinking water since the mid-1800s. The gardens were established in 2005 as a private 501(c)3 not for profit, and today span more than 24 individual themed spaces including an English Cottage Garden, a Waterfall Garden, a Japanese-style Island Garden, and a Children’s Garden.


The Conversation Garden's commemorative paver walkway connects returning visitors to something personal, while the Quilt Garden — part of the northern Indiana Amish Country Heritage Trail — is redesigned each year as a living celebration of regional identity and craft.


Seasonal programming spans the full calendar year, including a summer concert series - Groovin’ in the Gardens, workshops, educational events, and a beloved holiday lights display - Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights. The Gardens are open year-round, and facilities are available for private events including weddings, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of life.


To read the full article by Ivan Slonic, KUHL, please visit here.


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About Wellfield Botanic Gardens Wellfield Botanic Gardens is a “living museum” located at 1011 N. Main St., Elkhart, Indiana. The private, not-for-profit was created in 2005 and in 2026, Wellfield was ranked the #1 botanic garden in the United States in a national study evaluating more than 400 public gardens across the country.  For more information, visit wellfieldgardens.org or call 574-266-2006.


Note to Media:

For future press releases, please contact Jen Tan, the Marketing and Communications Manager.



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