I recently put together a fairly substantial road trip to see a bunch of California I'd never properly explored, including a handful of stops, like this one, to see things that had gone on mental my list to see "eventually" like a decade ago, that I decided to cross off as many of as I could, at once. Honestly, I didn't entirely know what to expect - I'd seen pictures of the place, but pictures don't do the *scale* of the place justice. Indeed, having now taken the tour of what is left, the most mindboggling thing I learned about it is, by the time anyone had started working to preserve what was left, a majority of the land Forestiere had converted to his home, had long been sold to developers, who just filled it all back in. It was originally even several times larger! Anyway, the part I did already know, but it was still impressive to see in person: from ground level, it hardly looks like anything, just a standard small orchard, if that. But as soon as you descend, you can see, and *feel*, instantly why he built it. Unlike the sprawling Winchester house I originally had mentally compared it to, which was built by a rich person slowly going insane, in this case, it was built by someone with fairly modest wealth (indeed, when he started, no wealth whatsoever), just loads of time and the willingness to learn how to construct and then, for the rest of his life, continuously improve, a wonderfully air conditioned house using no electricity (it was a hundred million degrees outside the weekend we were there, and a perfect temperature once the tour started), that everything he built, was built to make it a more comfortable place for himself to live and grow citrus, as he slowly McGuyvered himself a megamansion out of nothing but primitive tools, a couple donkeys, and decades worth of time and effort. Super cool! (Well, we did learn, eventually he realized what he was building could be turned into a hotel, and had started working on that when he died. It's too bad he didn't complete it - I'd have loved to stay in that hotel!) It's even more impressive that, while it eventually turned into quite a home, he *started* digging it as a temporary fix to try to grow his citrus, after he moved to Fresno hoping to farm citrus, so when he discovered the topsoil sucked too much to grow citrus trees, he dug deeper down, planted citrus there, and built an underground citrus grove so successfully, with fruit of all shapes and sizes, that a majority are still the same citrus trees growing there now - and they look *seriously* juicy. I just wish they could sell them to us when they were ripe - I wanted to eat one! (I asked - they aren't legally allowed to sell produce to consumers themselves. Every once in a while some local business will buy produce and make snacks they can sell themselves, but mostly they just have to let the produce fall naturally and decompose back into the soil.) I wouldn't feel the need to come back now that I've seen it - it's not like anything is likely to *change* at this point (unless maybe they eventually could get a license to sell the citrus grown there?) - but it was definitely worth making the detour to see the place finally. p.s. Parking was not *nearly* as much of a big deal as I'd worried it would be. The website indicates that due to construction on the next big street over, it's street parking, so get there early. Turns out the street they said to park in, is basically a glorified alley - admittedly, we were the first tour of the day, it might get busier later, but there was *tons* of free parking. I was mostly worried about our car being broken into, being in what is now a fairly sketchy-looking neighborhood with zero foot traffic most of the time. It was fine, though, obviously. read more

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Shoutout to Kelsey, our awesome tour guide. She walked us through the Forestiere's underground garden and spoke proudly about its history. My family came here to visit not knowing what to expect. It was a great experience learning how Forestiere built these tunnels so intentionally and with innovation. The guided tour is about 60 minutes and includes a lot of walking with some stairs, so be prepared with comfy shoes. However, there's also benches in the tunnels if you need a quick seat. The tour ends in the grand ballroom which connects to the gift shop. There you can find citrus sorbet made from the fruits of this garden. I had to give that a taste and it was sweet and zesty. I went home with some postcards to send to friends too. This place is also California State National Landmark No. 916! You must add it to your bucket list of adventures. read more

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What an unbelievable place! I can't believe one guy and his two mules built this oasis in Fresno. It's truly remarkable to learn about his story and to walk inside the tunnels into his home, and feel the difference in temperature underground. The guide was amazing and I'm telling everyone I know to check it out! Such an incredible experience! Tips: parking is limited on the street (that I noticed) No videos allowed during the tour. read more

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What a fascinating place to visit! Baldeserro Forestiere was simply amazing considering he wasn't a trained architect or engineer. Christopher, our tour guide in our group of 5 was so knowledgeable and a great tour guide. We highly recommend taking an hour for this tour! read more

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I found out about this place and then called to see if there was availability for their latest tour. Made it on time and the tour was great. It was very informative and I was able to learn about Baldassare's garden. They had a gift store and I was able to make a coin. I would definitely recommend coming here to learn more about this special place. read more

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Based on the faded sign and what you see from the street, it looks a little underwhelming but after you go on the tour, it will definitely change your perspective. With that said, the tour is definitely NOT ADA friendly and as there are no elevators and lots of steps, wheelchair and walker accessibility is non existent. If you're not able to walk and stand for a full hour, this would not be the best tour for you. There are some portable fans/AC but there is no air conditioning. In a hot day, if it's 95 degrees outside, the cave temperature is about 10 to 15 degrees cooler, but it can still be warm. The only negative is that they do not have a visitor parking lot. You would need to park on the street along Shaw Ave or Forestiere Ave. As you enter the chained fence gate off Shaw Ave, you're greeted and they will show you down to the check in table. They do have restrooms but not during the tour. If you need to step away, someone can escort you out of the tour to the restroom if needed. It can be a bit of aMAZEing experience. Our tour guide, Brayden, she did a great job. read more

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Great experience. The Halloween tour was absolutely wonderful. There was an incredible staff. So kind. You can see the care and love they have for this place. The scenery was beautiful. 10/10. read more

What a complete hidden gem tucked below the hot grounds of Fresno. It is a worthy stop if traveling between L.A. and Sacramento. It is just wild to think that the imagination and ingenuity of one man could become such a remarkable piece of architectural achievement. 1 man, 2 mules, 3 tools and years of dedication....words and photos do not do it justice. Guided tours are every 15 min, street parking only. read more

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We were visiting our friend who recently graduated and she had been wanting to go to this place for a while. We were surprised at how cool this underground garden was. The tour was just about an hour and it was thankfully cooler underground. Our tour guide Rhanda was lovely and hilarious. She was a very good storyteller. read more

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Amazing engineering of an underground structure. I can't even imaging hand digging this giant hole/maze for 40 plus years. This man was ingenious and innovative in his construction. I wish I could have seen the enormity of his entire creation before he passed. This is quite the gem in Fresno. Don't blink or you will miss it. There is no onsite parking, you must find a spot on the street, either in front or around the corner. We walked up and lucked out with space on the 2 pm tour. I highly recommend jumping online and making reservations. Cost is $25 per adult, a price well worth the 1.5 hours. Our tour guide was amazing. Her love and exuberance for the place truly showed in her energy on the tour. I had a little bit of a coughing fit and she so sweetly brought me a water. read more

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Buy ticket online $25 each and $3.50 fee. We visited the place when the temperature outside is 80+, however the underground is cooler, we even have to put on a light jacket. The tour guide was great and very helpful, she shared fascinating stories about the garden's history. We were amazed by the work of one single man - B Forestiere. Overall, this was an interesting trip. 4 stars because the parking is limited, we have to do street parking on a busy street. read more

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Loved this tour of Forestiere, who spent the majority of his life creating and building an underground ecosystem out of pure imagination, willpower and grit. He didn't have a lot, but I'm so impressed how much he accomplished. He dug the tunnels all by himself and grafted trees in the ecosystem to bear fruit. The tunnels are over 100 years old and I'm glad it is now a historical site being preserved by the family. Was also able to buy some pomegranate and limes to support. The tour of the tunnels is for an hour and the staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Purchase your ticket online and make sure to come on time as they start the tour on the dot. read more

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Such a fun and unique experience. This does require walking, good footwear, comfort in nature, smaller spaces and some stairs. The history, visuals, and exciting design make for an awesome experience. The tour is about an hour long and filled with a lot information. read more

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Beautiful!! So much history and our tour guide was amazing!! Thank you Brayden for a wonderful nearly private tour lol read more

Forestiere Underground Gardens - Orange/ lemon tree - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Fresno, California

My family along with our cousins and aunt decided to tour the Forestier Underground Gardens. It was such a gem to visit. The gardens were built in an unexpected park of Fresno and these is a lot of history behind them. Parking was somewhat difficult but once you enter, the staff were very kind, organized, and positive. Our tour guide Raul was super sweet and provided a lot of history regarding the gardens and the family who built them. Raul had my 3 young boys engaged and interested. He answered all my questions and was so open to conversation. You could tell Raul was proud to be there telling all of us how the Gardens came to be. The Gardens are very interesting. I've never seen anything quite like these. The smell of all the citrus trees combine with the natural cooling underground was amazing and made the tour comfortable. If you have any time i do recommend visiting these secret gardens. read more

Forestiere Underground Gardens - My son admiring the underground citrus trees - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Fresno, California

On Sunday before my husband and I flew home from Fresno, we stopped at the Forestiere Underground Gardens, a California historic site. What was once an 80? 40? acre property now has between 5-10 acres that haven't been sold / taken via eminent domain that has been preserved as the underground gardens. In the early 1900's, second born son of a Sicilian citrus farmer Baldassare Forestiere made his way to Boston to work digging underground subway tunnels. He saved his money hoping to one day start his own citrus groves as his older brother was to be the sole inheritor of their father's groves in Sicily. He saved his money and bought a plot of land in Fresno, only to find extremely hot summer weather and rocky, dense "hardpan" soil - terrible for growing anything. Between 1906 until his death in 1946, Baldassare took a pickaxe and hand dug 10 acres of underground rooms, some with skylights, to both live in and to plant all manner of fruit trees. The trees were mostly shaded with only indirect sunlight underground, keeping the plants cool and thriving. As the trees grew larger, the very tops of the trees were accessible for harvesting at street level. Baldassare never married, never had children and spent his days digging new rooms every day after he got home from his other jobs working on railroads and other hard labor jobs. Baldassare's younger brother and his wife saved the property after his death and their family worked to get it registered as a California Historic Landmark. Only about acres are still managed, maintained and owned by the family, while other parts of the tunnels run under the street and even a nearby Starbucks. While it felt a little pricey at $25 per person, our tour guide Rhanda was very knowledgeable and it was great that the tours are limited to small groups. Visited: July 2025 read more

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I read an article about these gardens online and I was very intrigued. I have been wanting to visit them for a while and I finally got a chance to go in December when I was passing through the area. You have to make reservations online or via telephone as it's by guided tour only. I was lucky enough to call same day and be able to get into one of the tours. The tours sell out so I wasn't able to go with the tour when I arrived, but I only had to wait about 30 minutes for the next tour. The tour was very informative. You learn a lot about the history of the gardens and of the gentleman who started them. You only actually see a portion of what the gardens originally were, but it's amazing to see and to learn about how it was accomplished. There is so much to learn about this place that even the 1-hour tour can't contain everything you'd want to know. There are so many different types of trees and plants and flowers in the garden. It's hard to believe that this was all done by hand with only one man and a donkey. It's a really interesting and unique experience and I would definitely recommend it. read more

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This place it's beautiful. It has a story of a man who started digging and building this underground garden. It is unique here in Fresno. You have to check on line for tickets and times. It is great for walking and taking your tourist family and friends. There is not a lot of parking out side this place. You have to find your self one close to it. There are some trees that were planted underground and the man had to make a hole On top of the tree so it gets the sunlight. He had to plan this accordingly. It is a rare Gem. Highly recommend. They also have food trucks outside. If you get hungry. read more

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What a gem! Believe it or not, this quirky little attraction was the entire reason I came to Fresno this weekend, and I have zero regrets. It is only an hour tour, but it was fantastic. If you aren't familiar with the story of this historical landmark, buy a ticket and find out. read more

Absolutely amazing experience. Loved the history and seeing the underground areas. I urge everyone to go see this place. I find it hard to put into words what a jewel this place is. The area around it can be rough, but we found parking right in front. The tour area is much cooler than ground level, so this can still be done during hot weather. read more

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From the time we stepped onto the property til the time we left, everyone was friendly and informative. Definitely recommend seeing this at least once. Our guide Carol was very good and you could tell she enjoyed her job. read more

The tour was exceptional and far exceeded expectations. We had no idea that the garden reflected the life of Mr Forestiere in the development of a complete resort in the cool rooms underground and the citrus trees which had their leaves and fruit just above ground provided food. The staff , particularly Randa, was very helpful after the event in contacting the nearby hotel on our behalf. read more

A very interesting place to visit. We really enjoyed our time there. What an amazing vision Mr. Forestiere had, we were so glad we visited. read more

Forestiere Underground Gardens - Enjoying some Orange Sherbet! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Fresno, California

This was an amazing tour. Our tour guide Lauren was very knowledgeable and passionate about the story. I would definitely recommend checking this out at least once. You won't regret it. read more

This tour enlightened us on the historical significance of the underground lifestyle rather than it being a botanical exploration. All tours required us to have tickets prior and they do sell out. There was street parking available and there was a gift shop to roam around prior to the tour. The tour started promptly but they did allow late comers to join in later. Our tour guide was incredible and she was knowledgeable about the history and architecture of the underground passageways. There was a lot of religious symbolism incorporated in the way the trees were grown and rooms where set up. Due to the underground nature, the temperature was noticeably cooler so I would bring a jacket depending on the day. Although children under 4 were free, this experience seemed more suitable for older children and adults. We were expected to stay as a group so don't expect to be allowed to roam about. Art and history buffs would love this tour and most of the enjoyment came from the explained history and context from our guide. The tour took over an hour, ending in a room connected to the gift shop. I wouldn't approach this tour expecting luscious greenery but with the expectation of appreciating the historical context of Fresno. read more

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This historic site had been on my bucket list for decades and was elated that we were finally going to get to visit this truly one of a kind California attraction. Our tour guide, Carolyn, was amazing and a 5-star ambassdor for Fresno County and the Gardens. Her knowledge of the history of Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere and his magical world exceeded all our expectations. Despite the difference in temperatures above vs. below ground, those warm Fresno days raise those underground temps. When possible, plan to an early tour to avoid the heat. read more

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I've lived in Fresno my whole life and somehow didn't visit Forestiere Underground Gardens until last year. that is a mistake I genuinely regret. one man hand carved an underground world beneath the San Joaquin Valley over decades and you can walk through it. the fact that this exists here and most Fresno locals have never been is wild to me. the tunnels, the rooms, the skylights that let in just enough light to grow citrus trees underground. it sounds impossible until you're standing in it. the tour guides are great. ours knew the history inside and out and made the whole thing feel like a story rather than a lecture. you leave actually knowing who Baldasare Forestiere was and why he did what he did and it sticks with you. its not a long visit but its a full one. I was genuinely moved in a way I didn't expect from a Saturday afternoon activity in Fresno. bring people who are visiting from out of town. bring people who've lived here forever. this is the kind of place that makes you see your own city differently and that doesn't happen often. if you haven't been, go soon. and if you have been, you already understand why I felt the need to write this. read more

It was a guided tour into one man's life long passion project and a family's dedication to preserving it. My family and I absolutely enjoyed seeing the underground garden, we were able to walk in and check for availability (got lucky considering it was a party of 5). The staff were very friendly, my only regret is not going when the citrus is in season. read more

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When I arrived, I thought we had made a mistake driving hours to visit this. There was no guest parking, and when you look at it from the street level, there is not much to see. But the tour is actually really educational and you have to see it to believe it--that someone had dug and carved this amazing underground oasis with bare hands and simple farm tools! However, Fresno's summer heat is brutal, so even you go below the ground level, it is warm, and you are not allowed to bring any food or drinks once you start the tour. Even going to the restroom requires you to leave the tour and be escorted because the restroom is on the surface. Our tour guide Brayden was amazing. She knew a lot of the history and did an excellent job explaining everything. As much as I loved the experience and would highly recommend it, I want to point out that the facility is a historic site and therefore not built for accessibility or modern day structural standards. So this is not a good place to bring visitors who rely on wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers. The ceiling is low, and the steps are steep. Even tall people may find it challenging to go through the tunnels and caves. And this is definitely not a fun place for young kids who want to run around, touch everything, and climb on everything. But if you love history and enjoy seeing someone's resilience to build this raw but creative underground structure to overcome mother nature's challenges and the cards that were dealt in life, you will come out of this tour impressed and amazed! read more

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This place blew me away. I had Rhanda (I think that's the spelling) as a guide and she was SO terrific. This is a historical landmark and she walked me through every room with great detail on the origin story and the rooms we were in. One of the best tour guides I've had. I have never experienced anything this - you have to really appreciate the amount of work, design and detail by Baldassare Forestiere - truly a feat! Very grateful the family makes this available for tours. Highly recommend if you appreciate gardening, architecture, art, engineering etc. They also did a great job of reminding me of my appointment and following up afterwards. If in Fresno area, this is a don't miss!! read more

We were running late for our tour and called ahead and they were able to move us to a tour 15min after our initial reservation, it was perfect. The tour guide was so fun and knowledgeable. What a unique place! read more

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Pros: The best guided tour I have had (our guide was Latieshka who was excellent and really elevated the experience). A unique landmark in an unexpected location. I recommend a stop if you are in or going through Fresno. Cons: Street parking only was slightly inconvenient (and somewhat confusing as the parking is right next to the large parking lot associated with the gardens which was empty and locked). read more

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We had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Forestiere Underground Gardens today, and were not disappointed. Furthermore, we were fortunate enough to get Latishak as our guide. Not only was she highly familiar with Mr. Forestiere's life and visions- her enthusiasm and animated way added considerably to the tour. We were very happy we decided to spend our Sunday morning at the Forestiere's. read more

Unbelievable tour and Leticia, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant! What a treat for us to see this on our way home to Southern California. read more

It is not a garden. It is underground man cave With few orange trees and couple of grape vines. One hour guided tour is too long. I was done in 20 minutes but I had to follow the guide Worth seeing ones to satisfy the curiosity. But definitely it is not underground d garden read more

I took my grandsons to Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno yesterday, and they absolutely loved it. Our guide was fantastic, engaging with their curiosity and making the experience enjoyable for children of all ages. I can't praise her enough. I hadn't visited since I was their age, and it was both fun and fascinating. This is a wonderful place to take kids, where they can learn so much while exploring. read more

Omg stay home and watch the YouTube video and amazing life story of the founder. Going to the location is not recommended. They have 2 surly staff people at a bench that randomly decide to close early due to heat when it's 90 degrees outside and cloudy!! There's no parking and lots of road construction going on. So you're stuck with the couple spots of street parking and a sign telling you to lockup your car and hide your belongings. Sorry for the long novel but we drove 2 hours to be here when Yelp and google said it was open only to be told there are no tours. I said that's ok can we pay $25 each to walk under the orange trees for 5 minutes. Response: "No come back when you book an appointment ". We don't want to stay here past our shift that ends in an hour. Roflmao - great representation of the spirit of the founder read more

Forestiere Underground Gardens - Entry sign. Doesn't say "By appointment only" - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Fresno, California

It is an amazing testament to the perseverance and passion of its creator Baldasarre Forestiere and his family. A must see.

What an incredible hidden gem! We were so lucky to discover this place during an overnight stay in Fresno. It's amazing to see Forestiere's vision come to life--he transformed a barren piece of land into something truly extraordinary and was clearly far ahead of his time. I expected to see a simple underground garden, but it turned out to be so much more. The craftsmanship, creativity, and history behind every space made this one of the most unique places we've ever visited. It's absolutely worth the tour if you're anywhere near Fresno! read more

The garden truly is a blessing to Fresno,. It is gorgeous with so much history. Thank you Maka, for making our tour special read more

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