The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie — Attraction in Chandler

I really hate to give a less than perfect review, but I feel this is needed. First off, the grounds of the lavender farm are absolutely beautiful, and the home itself is stunning. Almost everyone we met was incredibly welcoming and friendly The gift shop was wonderful and we bought too much stuff lol. That’s why I hate to leave a less-than-glowing review, but I feel like this is important to share.

Unfortunately, our tour experience was disappointing, mostly because of our guide, Charlie. I totally understand that tours are on a schedule, but his approach felt rushed and lacked the warmth we experienced from others at the farm. His jokes seemed condescending, and he gave off an arrogant vibe that didn’t sit well, especially with a group mostly made up of elderly guests. He repeatedly said things like, ‘Please move along, everyone out of this room or I’ll lock you in,’ which I think was meant to be funny, but it just felt odd. On top of that, he was giving incorrect facts about the house, as a joke, before giving the right info.. and he did it so much that it made it hard to remember the actual facts.

Some of the history he shared also felt… weird. While in the daughter’s room, he pointed out the padded walls and made a vague insinuation that only the women’s rooms had them for reasons that felt inappropriate. He didn’t outright say it, but it was obvious what he was implying, and someone in the group even told him to ‘stop while he’s ahead.’ I was there with my mother-in-law and honestly felt a little uncomfortable and embarrassed.

What really upset me, though, was something I overheard when I stepped out of a room ahead of the group. Charlie turned to the other tour guide and said, ‘This group is so slow, we are never going to finish in time,’ as if we were some kind of burden. I don’t know if he realized I was standing there or if he was trying to be funny, but either way, it was disappointing and unprofessional.

On the flip side, the other guide helping out (I didn’t catch his name, but he was tall, blond-ish/brown hair and wore glasses) was fantastic. He was so kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the history of the house. Unfortunately, every time he tried to share something interesting, Charlie would make comments like, ‘Okay, stop talking to everyone and holding us up.’ It was just frustrating to watch.

I wanted to share this because it’s obvious how much care goes into the property and the tours, and it’s a shame that our experience didn’t reflect that. Charlie just didn’t represent you well, and I hope this is something that can be addressed so future visitors have a...

As an East Valley resident for 30+ years, I’ve driven by and often wondered what this beautiful house looks like inside. A few years ago, there was a news story that posted many pictures and I was somewhat satisfied with that, but now that I’ve beheld its grandeur with my own eyes, it’s clear nothing compares to an intimate tour. The pictures didn’t come close to capturing the charm that was so masterfully presented and described by our guide, John. John prefers not to be in any photos you’re welcome to take on the tour, but you might be tempted to sneak one, as he is so witty, funny and handsome. He has taken great care weaving many personal and heart-tugging anecdotes that coincide with the construction elements, landscaping features and family history so well, the tour feels as grand and as en point with other Valley tours like Mystery Castle and Taliesin West. The property is stunning, regardless that some corners were under renovation. The aroma of lavender and tranquility of the brook and pond were delights for my Earth-sign senses. Having said that, it was a beautiful springtime day that I toured and some of the tour is outside so mindfulness of the desert climate is essential.The tour ends at an adorable shop that offers a multitude of products cultivated from the property’s farm. Don’t skip their delicious lemon lavender cookies and honey pear soda. Proceeds from the shop sales directly fund the restoration and maintenance of the Chateau De Vie. I was delighted to learn they offer soap and candle-making classes there, and they will be hosting a handful of High Tea experiences in the year to come. You won’t be disappointed with any time spent at this...

This mansion has so much history and interesting details associated with it. Our first visit was amazing and learned so many things about the home and the area. The tour guide was quite knowledgeable and hit on the little details that made things interesting. She was quick to answer all questions. As a side note, this was a group of 8 of us and during the week. I was excited to take an out of town guest on my next visit. It was on a Saturday and about 15 of us in the group. The guide seemed to be straight- forward with a rehearsed speech. She also seemed rushed to get thru the tour. She presented none of the interesting little stories or the back story of some of the features and only answered one or two questions. This was not the tour experience I wanted to give my guest. The lavendar shop is a nice stop with a variety of merchandise but some merchandise is unavailable for purchase. They do have a number of classes that seem interesting that you can register for. Maybe visit during the week, if possible, for a...