Longview Arboretum and Nature Center — Attraction in Longview

LONG ONE!

Honestly I’ve never had issues until today (08.16.25) and I’m rating one star so that this is seen and other photographers are aware.

I finished a session with my clients today from 4-5pm. A mother’s mother, the mother, & her daughter for a XV shoot.

On our way back, which was hitting close to 5pm, a mid to late 30s white lady, tall & skinny, with short brown hair, was working the front office.

She had the audacity to come up to me, and passive aggressively asking for my whole name start to tell me that it’s past 5pm and that I needed to be back by 4:45pm (no one tells you this btw, only that we are back before closing) bc the girl still needs to change and to take note of that for next time. She proceeded to tell me how she wasn’t even suppose to be there right now & was only there bc she had to print some things off, & had to step in for someone else too, obviously upset that she was there, continuing to make things awkward & passive aggressively telling me “ so …yeaaash…. It’s late, it’s past 5…” and how I was being disrespectful …… 🚩🚩🚩

I want to make a couple things clear:

We were not running late. I have proof of this with a picture from my phone with time stamp where by the time we stepped out, it was 5:04!!!! All the lies that lady spilled to try to make me feel horrible just bc she probably hates her job and wanted to be out by 4:45pm herself it seemed!!

I had a senior lady in her late 70s or more walking with us, someone who I didn’t expect to come, but was there. I will not be rushing an old lady as we walk. The disrespectful one here was NOT me.

If this is the way this company/ business is treating their paying & yearly contributing photographers & customers—by running them out— and for what??? A COUPLE MINUTES ??Then this post is to be made aware of who we are contributing to.

I ’d rather my money go to my Tyler & Dallas people then Longview anytime bc of that ONE lady who was being over exaggerated. And if she was—this is definitely not her vocation!! You’re paying customers come first!! Period! Coming from a business owner of 2 businesses with photography only being my hobby. 🗣️

SEE IMAGE FOR TIME...

Unfortunately for the arboretum, we had a poor experience and witnessed several others being treated the same way as us.

The arboretum itself is small and young, still in Phase 1 and working it’s way to expanding and adding more. It is nice as a small walk in the park with a lovely fountain and some cute bridges.

At the front desk is Kathy, who told us to be back at 5 as if she were our mother. We arrived 45 minutes before closing and she said “I’ll expect you here by 5”. We finished the walk in a mere 15 minutes and were back to the front at 4:30 and decided to peruse the artwork when we heard Kathy discourage a visitor from entering. “What are you doing?” She said to the guest who was trying to stop by the restroom “we close at 5” the lady said she was just going to stop by the restroom and Kathy made a face. “Would you like us back at 4:45?” The lady politely asked. No answer “just tell us when you’d like us to be back” she asked again. A man stepped in saying they would only walk for 10 minutes and be right back. Kathy looked defeated and sighed. Right after this, she closed up the gift shop and locked it, which clearly read that it closed at 5.

After this, a family and two children came and she told them they have no time to visit, and she turned them away. They stood in the parking lot for awhile, unsure of what to do.

Places like this need the support of the community. They need revenue. They need a way to stay alive. With someone like Kathy working the front desk there is no hope for survival. She drives everyone away and is not committed to the place at all.

When we first arrived, we inquired on a few things and she was reluctant to answer, and hurried us out the door to go look at the arboretum. She had no interest. No joy. And she rubbed us and the other guests the wrong way. She unfortunately soiled the place and the experience.

If no visitors are accepted after 4:30 I would expect it to be...

I am so very glad we found this place. After our first visit we immediately bought the family membership. This is a lovely place to walk or run. So beautiful and peaceful. Very clean and a bathroom at the top. Plenty of shaded places for sitting, eating lunch, journaling. It’s quickly became one of my favorite places to go. We have a lot of kids and its great to have a safe place to let them run and walk without worrying about questionable people roaming about. A bonus is the kids area inside. After the kids get a good brisk walk or run in, they look forward to coming back to this room for reading and art time while they cool down. There are plenty of books to read and inspiration on the walls for their art journaling. The little shop is adorable and fun to browse. The staff is extremely friendly which I greatly appreciate. They are some of the sweetest people we’ve met here. The only possible thing I wish could change is the opening hour. Opening earlier before it gets so hot would be perfect. But that is the only thing. We are very happy with our membership here and I am looking forward to many more wonderful...