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    White River Gardens

    4.2 (14 reviews)

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    Fairy village
    Ann L.

    This is a COVID update; please see my earlier review for my thoughts on White River Gardens in normal times! We visited here on. drizzly Sunday morning shortly after the zoo and gardens had reopened. If you reserve an entry time at the zoo, you can get in here the same day either before or after your zoo entry time. They don't seem to be picky about entry time to the gardens, but in theory, will limit number of people allowed in at once. They are not requiring or really even encouraging mask use here which was frustrating to me because we are so not out of the woods yet with COVID, and even with reduced capacity, indoor spaces without masks seems like a bad idea. There are signs encouraging people to stay 6 feet apart, but that's it. We did stop in to see the butterflies because there were only a couple of people inside the conservatory, but only maybe 25% were wearing masks so there is no way I'd consider going in if there were more than a couple of people. Since it was so empty we were able to stay far away and kept our visit brief. Staff are wearing masks and I feel bad for them because since patrons aren't required to wear masks, they're protecting the patrons, but they aren't being provided with that same protection. The outdoor gardens were beautiful and also sparsely populated today and it was easy to stay far away from all those non mask wearing patrons.

    map of the conservatory and gardens
    Ken N.

    If you want to escape from the crowds at the Indianapolis Zoo, take comfort knowing that your ticket gets you into the White River Gardens as well! The Hilbert Conservatory is where you will find indoor and tropical plants. As a bonus, the Butterfly Kaleidoscope has returned this year (into September) where you can watch butterflies released from their incubator. There are plenty of colorful butterflies winging their way throughout the two story structure. The outside gardens were just beginning to show color during my visit. Although the water works had not been activated yet, I can imagine that the gurgling sound of water splashing in the fountains will combine with the breeze to make this area as calm as it is beautiful. Even without the water (mid April), I could see that the numerous fountains and ornamental statues would be the foundation for some great photos. The addition of colorful flowering plants, shrubs, and trees will surely create a space that is worth stopping by. Note that to enter the outdoor gardens, you must first go into the White River Gardens Building and after showing your ticket, you will pass into a small room where one door leads to the indoor garden and another on the left leads to the outdoor gardens. The outdoor gardens are arranged into a variety of styles. Each of these areas has the name of the garden written in the footpath as you stroll along. Lots of artwork (mostly limestone) can be found in the Knot Garden and along the wall of the Ornamental Allee (not a typo!) I look forward to returning in the summer to see how much the view has changed. Review #269

    The flowers that bloom in the warmth of the sun are there to be loved by anyone.
    Nicole S.

    Each time I visit, I leave the gardens feeling a little more relaxed than when I entered. This is a place that I wish I could spend more time in -- I never spend enough time here. There is always something new to see, something new to photograph (bring your camera). It's in the middle of a bustling city, but you'd never know it. It's alive with butterflies, birds and other creatures, plants and flowers and water trickling from beautiful water features. It's just a nice, peaceful, beautiful place to visit.

    Lilly pads
    Chris F.

    Absolutely breathtaking. I've been to a butterfly display before, but the White River Gardens is something special. It's a place that brings you into reality. That we're part of something bigger. That creation is something that is precious. Life is priceless. And sometimes stopping to literally smell the roses is the best medicine. My first time to the gardens began with high expectations. I'm one that finds a lot of peace in tranquil little piece of heaven. I wasn't let down by any means. Gorgeous manicured plants and flowers indoors and outdoors along with the butterflies softly guiding throughout the two story indoor glass house created a perfect setting and truly exceeded my expectations. Nature has a voice. It's through precision, detail, colors, and vibrance. If you need something to lift your spirits make a point to pack a lunch and sit, see, feel, and visit here. A perfect place for a special moment, White River Gardens is on the grounds of the zoo and should be part of the overall experience.

    Butterfly nursery
    Brittney R.

    I've lived in Indy all my life, been to the Indianapolis Zoo a million times, but for some reason I had never made it to the White River Gardens. I seem to only go the Zoo with kids in toe and they are only interested in the animals. Today I went sans kids and thought I'm stopping at the Gardens first thing! It was during the Butterfly Kaleidoscope and it was amazing! I love butterflies and they were everywhere! The indoor part of the Gardens was full of botanicals and all different kinds of butterflies flying around freely inside. My favorite part here was the butterfly nursery where all the cocoons were and you could watch them hatch (? is that the right term?). But that's not all, there is an additional area outside too! Full of colorful flowers in bloom, there is a large area outside to walk around in too. Don't miss this area when visiting the zoo. It's free with zoo admission.

    Donna P.

    White River Garden is a beautiful place to spend a few hours wandering the flowers. Fantastic place for photos or wedding.

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    10 years ago

    Such a beautiful and peaceful place. Sadly, my trip landed after most of the tulips were done, but even so, the grounds were lovely.

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    Review Highlights - White River Gardens

    I seem to only go the Zoo with kids in toe and they are only interested in the animals.

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    Fletcher Place Community Center - Christmas store

    Fletcher Place Community Center

    5.0(2 reviews)
    2.9 miFountain Square

    Best volunteer experience I've had! Not only are they organized, they are efficient, and focused on…read moretheir mission to help as many people as possible. I had heard of Fletcher Place food pantry, but I didn't realize how much this location offers. Check it out: 1. Thrift store. People can come and shop around the store to score clothes, shoes, and household items for free. All clothes have been donated from the community and are sorted in the basement by volunteers. Clothing in the store is nice and any stained clothing is given to Salvation Army. Anything the Salvation Army can't use is given to a company in Canada that turns them into rags. Nothing is wasted and the thrift store staff says that their goal is for people to leave feeling better about themselves. That's why the store is so clean, organized, and friendly. 2. Preschool. There are two preschool classrooms for kids. Not only do they receive education, but teachers will pick out clothing from the thrift store for the children if they are not adequately dressed. Children then get to keep the clothes. There is also a large library that allows students to choose books from (to keep) each week. 3. Kitchen. The top floor has a large multi-purpose room that is often used for meals. Churches come in every day and donate food and cooking ability. No one is ever turned down from receiving food. An average of 120 people are fed every meal. The facility is super nice and always clean- but only with the help of volunteers. The building is also very secure and they always have plenty for volunteers to do. They also have an e-mail newsletter they send out about volunteer opportunities. *There is a big Christmas event in which you take families "shopping" throughout the building to get all necessities and Christmas presents. Very cool. They're looking for help* Check this place out if you've never been. They're doing great things!

    This is where you bring donations. Don't take them to the chain donation drop off center where…read moreyour stuff is sold. Bring your clothes, blankets, shoes here, where they will be given away to people that really really need them. They also operate a free food pantry so you can bring food items for needy families. After donating a cart load of stuff, they gave me a receipt for tax purposes. On the way out I also noticed a community garden and produce stand that probably operates in the summer. My wife is a Girl Scout troop leader and they often come here to volunteer, sorting food items and helping to sort and display other donations.

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    Fletcher Place Community Center
    Fletcher Place Community Center - Food!

    Food!

    Fletcher Place Community Center

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    Rooftop Fruit

    Rooftop Fruit

    4.9(49 reviews)
    2.6 miFountain Square

    This small shop supports more than 100 small businesses. If you're trying to do better about…read morespending your money where you live or you just like quality goods, this is the place for you! Or if you just want a quick snack or drink while walking around Foubtain Square, pop on in. Everything I have bought from Rooftop Fruit has been a new favorite. From the Hey Champ miso candy bars, to lip makeup, to CBD icy hot, and wrapping paper everything has been of great quality. I go here often for stocking stuffers or birthday gifts. It's nice to be able to get people something I know that they will love while also supporting a local business and so many small businesses. Recently I went in to get some wrapping paper to wrap books for a book swap and I was so pleased with the quality of the wrapping paper for the price. I was nervous that it would be see through, but it was not see through in the slightest. I got so many compliments on the wrapping paper at the book swap! Once I run out of hand soap I really want to try their waste free options! The staff are amazing and so helpful! They're quick to show you options and help come up with ideas (or let you know when they have more inventory in the back if you like to stock up on Hey Champ bars like me).

    This is one of my all time favorite shops to pop into in Fountain Square. There are always such…read moreunique items here from candles, to cards + stylish sun glasses and food products. They often hold pop ups here as well and feature other businesses. They've got sustainable products here as well and the vibe in here is immaculate. Always treated with a smile and if you're into a photo opp, they've got a + setup for it!

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    Rooftop Fruit
    Rooftop Fruit
    Rooftop Fruit

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    Kuma's Corner - Neurosis burger

    Kuma's Corner

    4.2(814 reviews)
    2.5 miFountain Square
    $$

    I came here on a whim and I'm glad I did!…read more Kuma's corner kind of feels like a rock concert venue turned restaurant on the inside, with lots of memorabilia in there. There's a bit of grunge aesthetic too. I opted for the patio seating on the nice day that I visited. Service worked pretty quickly and friendly. I got a mocktail to start that was cranberry, orange, and pineapple juice. It was pretty yummy. I was far more impressed by the foooood! My partner and I split a burger and Mac and cheese. The size small was $9 and was honestly huge. It was definitely enough food for two. The burger we got was also a good size, and came with a lot of shoestring onion on top. The burger was $18 but it's a 10 oz patty which is practically a better deal than most other burgers out there. I'll be back again sometime for sure!

    My husband wanted a good burger but because I'm vegan, it needed to be a place with an option for…read moreme. After researching, I found Kuma's Corner. They have a vegan option. Convenient location. Zero proof drinks. There were some reviews about long wait times, non-toasted buns and the cost but the write up of the place itself gave me nostalgia vibes for a place called Cobra Burger in Richmond, VA so I had to try my luck. I really wanted to love this place, as I've not found anything like Cobra Burger here in Indy. When we arrived, around 6:45p on a Thursday, the patio had a good amount of people, but inside was pretty empty apart from the bar. We sat at a two top in the bar area. The music was at a pretty low volume, especially considering the amount of reviews that said otherwise. Our server was also bartender, so it initially took her a couple of minutes to come over, which is understandable. She took our order for drinks and then after bringing them back for the food. She was nice and provided good service although juggling tables and the bar, plus she was also pregnant. It took a very long time for us to get our food (close to an hour), despite three guys working the line in the kitchen, banging out burger after burger. The food arrived, hot and correct. Both my husband and I were disappointed that the reviews were right and the burger buns were not toasted. Non-toasted burger buns actually make the burgers harder to eat and less enjoyable. My burger was decent for a non-handmade vegan option; for the price my expectation is amor sophisticated/handmade creative one, but I am thankful that they had a vegan option at all. My husband thought his burger was just okay and that he's had better ones around Indy, so we probably won't be dining here again. For the size of the burger, they should bring you ample napkins without having to ask because it is very messy trying to eat them. For two burgers with fries, one small mac & cheese, and three beers (one regular and two nonalcoholic) before tip the bill was over $80. Now, if the food was top-tier fantastic, I would say fine but being that it was more middle of the road it's a bit pricey.

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    Kuma's Corner
    Kuma's Corner - Caesar salad

    Caesar salad

    Kuma's Corner - The Famous Kuma

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    The Famous Kuma

    Fountain Square Cremation & Funeral Services

    Fountain Square Cremation & Funeral Services

    3.0(6 reviews)
    2.6 miFountain Square

    I have used their service 5 different times. I have worked…read morewith Chris Judy Abby and Jim. I find them to be very kind and knowledgable. Judy gave me her personal number so I could reach her anytime. I was called when they were on the way to pick up my family member. I was also called when they arrived there. They listened to what my family member liked and did extra things to personalize the service. I have checked prices for other funeral homes and I have found them to be the most reasonable priced. They have recently done some remodeling and it all looked very nice. I would highly recommend their service when choosing a funeral home. I live out of state. Judy went out of her way to accommodate my schedule. Tina

    Fountain Square Cremation & Funeral Service posted an ad in the local paper seeking information…read moreabout an individual and asked that anyone having information about this individual contact them. It happened to be my uncle so I called. I left a message and no one bothered to call me back. I called again two days later and left another message. Again, no return phone call a week later. I can't give a review about their actual services, but if you leave a message, don't get in a hurry for a return phone call. I would think that if they are asking for information and someone calls in, they could at least have the courtesy to return the phone call even if to say thank you for call and that they don't need any additional information. If that's the kind of service they offer, would you really want them caring for your loved one?

    Bluebeard - Perfect Brussels Sprouts

    Bluebeard

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    2.0 miFletcher Place
    $$$

    I stopped by this fantastic spot in Fletcher Place for lunch and it was a total win! I loved that…read morethey offer two different experiences a great bar area and a beautiful full-service dining room. I opted for the dining room, and even though it was buzzing with a lunch crowd, it was the perfect level of energy without being noisy. The service was 10/10. My waiter was incredibly warm and took the time to explain the day's dishes in detail. I ordered the Brussels Sprouts and a drink, and both arrived in just a few minutes. The sprouts were perfectly prepared and very satisfying easily some of the best I've had. If you're looking for a high-quality lunch with excellent service and a great vibe, this is the place. I'm giving it a full rating and will definitely be back!

    Heading back home from Sturgis SD taking the I80 route, stopped in Indianapolis IN for a quick…read moredinner. Quick web search, Bluebeard popped up as one choice. Reviewed the menu seemed to be eclectic enough, off we go. The place had a decent size outdoor dinning area. Few of the tables were occupied. Table for one...indoor, outdoor was the question? Indoor. Although the weather was beautiful, indoors was my choice. Al fresco dining is not my first choice. I don't like to do battle over my meal with insects and other wild life. I deducted 1 star for red wine served at room temperature. How is it that, red wines are chilled (55F) on the west coast but served at 'room temperature' (72F, 82F...) on the east coast. Had two dishes, they were OK, service was ok Would I go back? Yes, if the red wine was chilled.

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    Bluebeard - Draft Taps

    Draft Taps

    Bluebeard - Winter Panzanella salad

    Winter Panzanella salad

    Bluebeard - Brussels SproutsBrussels

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    Brussels SproutsBrussels

    White River Gardens - gardens - Updated May 2026

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