Kingwood Center Gardens — Attraction in Mansfield

We had an unfortunate experience! We booked a photo shoot with a photographer and showed up up to Kingwood center gardens very excited and all ready for our session. We were told to check in the front desk and then go on to the greenhouse. We have never been here before so when we arrived at the front desk we told the two ladies working ( one a manager) that we were here for a session. They didn’t greet us for one and just kinda looked at us like we were crazy for being there. We thought possibly we were at the wrong location because they said we don’t have photographers here today! And if your party is larger than 10 you can’t pay to get in because you would have had to book. We were so upset and confused. Instead of helping us try to figure this out they told us there was nothing they would do and that this was pretty much not there problem. So upset my entire family of 6 adults and 4 children went to our car because they pretty much told my kids and niece they were a not allowed in the garden shop because they would break something. Mind you this is a gift shop/ museum for people to look at and my mother was watching them. When we left there children, kids and babies all over the place looking around grabbing things so why were my children told they needed to leave and stop touching things?!? We leave as we were told to and sat in our car trying to figure out the miscommunication. I waited and waited and never seen the photographer walk in so I decide to go back in just to make sure that the photographer hadn’t came and we had missed her. The lady once again reassured me that no photographer was there and she hadn’t seen one come in. I had just watch a family all dressed up definitely getting pictures so I just said “are you sure you haven’t seen a photographer I just seen a family walk out dressed up” no there hasn’t been any photographer walk in. So I go back out to the car by now it’s snowing, windy, and my children are a complete wreck with messed up hair. I was in tears at this point for how we were being treated. No help from the “ receptionist” and “manager” what so ever. My makeup is a mess by now from crying and feeling helpless. After waiting for an hour I was able to get ahold of the photographer (my phone had died during this situation so I couldn’t even call her) she said she was there and had been there in the green house with another family session! WHAT?!?! So I went back in and told the ladies she had been there waiting on us. She was actually already there before we arrived. All the sudden the manager completely changed her attitude towards us and it was all the sudden okay now to meet our photographer in the greenhouse. It had all just been a misunderstanding. They didn’t realize some of the 10 people were children and the kids don’t count as the 10 people Even though we said we are all here when we arrived the first time and told them how many adults and children. I even counted all of us in front of the two ladies and said exactly how many was going to be paying. It was the most absurd situation that was handled so wrong. Don’t expect any good greeting or welcoming when entering. We ended up having the session and the place was gorgeous but we were put through the ringer to get it done. I don’t know why they treated us so unkind but it was so bad. I also want to add that there were about 4 different photographs there taking pictures 😏 so all this chaos before our session could have been prevented had they kindly greeted us and tried to figure out if the photographer was there and maybe misunderstood the policies. Why have a receptionist if you are not there to greet with a smile and help the families entering. Such an unpleasant experience. Ps the photographer was amazing! Customer service at kings center...

Do NOT have your wedding here.

While the venue is undeniably beautiful—the gardens, courtyard, and mansion are stunning—my honest advice: take pictures here, but do not host your event.

I had my wedding here a month ago and the process was a nightmare from beginning to end. It was supposed to be the happiest time of my life, but planning with this venue caused unnecessary stress and tears. Initially, I planned a 250-guest wedding. Although their website said they allowed 250 guests, the coordinator told us the limit was now 200 due to new rules. After some negotiation—since we weren’t having alcohol or dancing—they made an exception. We appreciated that and signed the contract.

From there, communication was awful. The planning team took a week or longer to respond to emails, and there’s no phone number—just limited scheduled calls. Around 50 days before the wedding, I still hadn’t heard much. I called with concerns, and only then did the coordinator realize our date was approaching and began discussing plans.

Then, one month before the wedding, I got an email saying our rain backup plan was no longer valid. We’d agreed to one when we signed, but now were told the backup ballroom could only hold 175 people, not our 230. Even though there’s a sign in that room saying the max is 247, this was never explained until a month out. Their "solution" was to split the event between two buildings—which is absurd in the rain. Are the bride and groom supposed to walk between buildings in their wedding attire? What about the DJ?

During our final walkthrough, it seemed like new rules were being invented on the spot. We chose to rent our own chairs and ended up paying $2000 in random chair-related fees. First, $1000 for drop-off and pick-up on the event day. Then $500 more to allow pickup after 10pm, and another $500 weeks later because they required pickup at exactly 9pm. Every small change seemed to come with a hefty fee.

We also had to pay $500 extra to access the venue earlier on the wedding day—setup time started at 2pm, but we needed more time since the cocktail hour began at 3:30pm.

Despite the chaos, our caterers and coordinators did an amazing job shielding us from the drama day-of, and the wedding was magical. But the issues didn’t stop.

A few weeks after the wedding, we still hadn’t received our $500 security deposit, so we followed up. After a month, we were told the deposit was withheld because our caterers allegedly tried to steal a golf cart, damaged a trailer, and scratched the asphalt. This was the first we’d heard of it. I emailed immediately asking for clarification and was told I could speak to someone the next week. When we finally spoke with Ms. Anna, she was condescending from the start. We calmly explained that our caterers—family friends of 20+ years—said they hadn’t even used the carts due to rain and followed instructions to use the service entrance. We asked for proof, and she said it wasn’t her job to provide it and that it was our problem if our vendors were lying. She claimed staff witnessed it, but refused to share their statements and eventually said “she frankly doesn’t care.” When we asked whether another guest might’ve caused the damage (since multiple events and proms were happening on the same day), she dismissed it and hung up.

I’ve worked in hospitality for nearly 10 years and know how powerful reviews can be, which is why I don't take writing this lightly. But I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone. What should’ve been joyful turned into a constant battle. If you want professionalism, empathy, and flexibility on your wedding day—this is not the venue for you. Visit for the gardens, but do not host your...

If I could leave zero stars...

I got my kids and some bonus kids all together for a festive holiday evening! Christmas has always been our favorite and what with my progression to stage 4 and the ongoing pandemic we were greatly in need of some holiday cheer. Our dreams of cozy yuletide togetherness came to a screeching halt when we were turned away at the ticket counter. Despite the website bearing no such information, apparently the number of tickets to be sold on a given evening is rather small. How, I ask you, does an outdoor event sell out? And if so what kind of business isn't forthcoming with this sort of information via their website? Thusly the only Christmas lights they permitted us to see were through the iron bars of the gates and the grubby gift shop windows. I'm sure that the ticket counter attendant was just overly tired and less than enthusiastic about having to tell family after family that their holiday outing plans had just changed. However, her forced smile and "jolly" cadence left the impression that the emotion she was experiencing was closer to Schadenfreude than regret. My smallest daughter was so heartbroken! She wept the entire drive home, her crocodile tears absolutely soaking the front of her little sweater. If I'm still here next year, we will be going to Columbus to see the zoo lights, instead.

How does an event of this manner sell out? How are they at maximum capacity if families are steadily leaving through the exit? If the Haunted Prison only sold 100 tickets and didn't allow more people to enter as people left I can't imagine that they would turn much profit. I understand that this level of math may be beyond the Kingwood staff as they are likely only used to counting on their fingers. If Kingwood Center wants to be treated like a larger metropolitan attraction, then they need to start being managed like one. Shelby Bicycle Days is run more...