Gratitude is the word that comes to mind after spending time is this special place.Quiet, spiritual, and delicious. The food was fresh and homemade, staff were kind and smiling.The owner made us feel like we were his personal guests and the entire experience was outstanding. I highly recommend anyone would find this a refreshing and meaningful way to spend a day.
You would NEVER expect to find this in the town of Sierra City. Sierra City is about a one hour drive from Truckee! The scenery along the highway is varied, from open range to craggy peaks!The gardens are the work of Don Phillips who has spent 50 years of his life perfecting them. He started with 118 acres and created fern grottoes and a Monet type bridge and pond. Everywhere you turn on the well developed paths are a new vignettes !We had made reservation for lunch ahead of time. We were treated to fresh salmon, three different salads, chicken and three varieties of fresh cheese. For dessert we were served FRESH peach cobbler,carrot cake , and ice cream. If you leave hungry it is your own fault!The property is for sale, so go as soon as you can!
Gorgeous grounds, extensive rock work and natural beauty, with creeks running down the hillside and Tiger Lilies growing wild near the water. The food is GREAT, in a wonderful setting. Pricy, but a fun experience. The backdrop of the Sierra Buttes is incredible.
Arrive an hour before your meal to stroll around the gardens and enjoy the nature trails, large pond and waterfalls on the property. Or allow time after your meal to stroll around. That is part of the full effect of the property. Food is always outstanding! A truly great value in a very unique, peaceful setting.
Absolutely stunning locale: fabulous house and gardens nestled within a forest with craggy mountains as the backdrop! Can't believe the creation Don Phillips realized in nowhere. So impressive. Lunch around the natural pools was such a treat. We drug it out as long as possible to savor the experience and then walked around the forest afterwards.
Not a botanical gardens, but a natural garden, sugar pine, cedar, wild flowers, good walk. Good lunch available, but book. However, owner might sell this year, then I don't know if it will still be available. Take route from Auburn, Truckee, Graeagle or Reno. www.bigspringsgardens.com
We really enjoyed our first visit to Big Springs Gardens. It's an amazing place. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and the scenery is wonderful and peaceful. We hope to visit again next year...at the beginning of the season to see more flowers, and the end of the season to see more fall colors.
The Sacramento Bee had a feature article on these gardens. The owner, Don Phillips, is now 90 and has decided to put it up for sale. He bought the property in 1964 and developed it, building a residence and beautiful gardens. He has visited Giverny (Monet's garden) many times. People refer to his garden as the "Monet in the Mountains." This was the last week before closing for the season and if the property sells, it may not be open next year. We had a wonderful buffet lunch which is included in the admission price...salmon, meatballs, cheeses, fruits and ice cream and peach cobbler and a variety of cakes. You can purchase wine or beer if you desire. We asked Mr. Phillips if he has had any interest in the property and he said yes, and that he panics. He obviously loves this place that he has put so much of his life into. We hope the new owner continues having the gardens open and the lunch and BBQs and Sunday Brunch. It is a little hard to find. But just ask, and you will be directed.
My wife and I went here two weeks ago on a Thursday. You make your reservation directly with the owner Don Phillips who is over 90 years old. A great guy. The fee is $35-39 depending on the day. The water is running a bit low this year, but the experience is really awesome. Don has built a trail system around the 30 acre property over the last 50 years where you see a variety of natural as well as imported flowering plants. Early Summer is probably better, but mid-Summer is nice too, but no so many flowers. Go early before it gets too hot, then relax at the lunch patio for a really great meal. The meal includes tax, tip, and non-alcoholic drinks. The meal always features fresh Salmon and awesome deserts. It is buffet, but the staff serves a lot of the food which is excellent. Don says that 2014 will be his last year, so get there before the end of September. After a delightful lunch head down the hill (west) to the Kentucky Mine "gold rush" attraction. The only issue here is that no dogs are allowed on the property or in the outdoor lunch area, so fido has to stay home. Check out the web site BigSpringsgardens.com
Absolutely beautiful! The drive is long but scenic. The dining environment is stunning, the food is always delicious.