This 43-Acre ‘Eden on the Hudson’ Near NYC Is Still The Most Spectacular Garden In America — And It’s Free to Visit

Just 30 minutes north of Midtown, Yonkers hides a 43-acre Gilded Age fantasy that was once called “America’s Most Spectacular Garden.” Untermyer Gardens isn’t your typical riverside park—it’s an over-the-top mix of Indo-Persian canals, Italian terraces, ancient Roman columns, and cinematic Hudson River vistas. It feels less like Westchester and more like a European ruin crossed with a grand Persian palace. After decades of near-ruin, it’s now in the middle of a dramatic revival, making 2026 the perfect time to see it at its peak. 🏛️ The vibe: Eden on the Hudson ----------------------------------- In 1916, Samuel Untermyer , a powerhouse lawyer and civic activist who once earned a $1 million fee, hired architect William Welles Bosworth to create something no one had ever seen before. His vision? A garden that transcended cultures, mixing Persian, Indian, Italian, and Greek influences into a 150-acre estate . The centerpiece, the Walled Garden , is widely regarded as the finest Persian garden in the Western Hemisphere , with reflecting canals, a central rill pointing straight at the Hudson, and sphinxes sculpted by Paul Manship standing guard. Other highlights include the Vista , a breathtaking stone stair that cuts down to two 2,000-year-old Roman columns framing the river; the Temple of Love , a dramatic cantilevered rock garden with cascading waterfalls; and the Ruins & Woodland Trails , echoing the estate’s fall into graffiti-tagged urban legend before the 2011 restoration brought it roaring back to life. 🌟 Why it matters in 2026 ---------------------------- After Untermyer’s death in 1940, the estate fell into decay. For decades, it was a “secret” spot for graffiti artists and the subject of dark urban legends—it was even rumored to be a meeting place for the cult linked to the “Son of Sam” in the ’70s. Fast forward to today: the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy has reclaimed and restored over 43 acres, turning this once-forgotten masterpiece into one of the most important and Instagram-worthy historic landscapes in the country. The project even earned a 2025 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award —proof that this isn’t just pretty scenery, it’s world-class restoration. 📸 Hero shots you can’t miss ------------------------------- * Walled Garden: Four canals, mosaics, sphinxes, and loggias built for maximum “wow.” * Vista Staircase: A cinematic descent flanked by Japanese cedars ending at the Hudson. * Temple of Love: Cascading waterfalls over rock formations that feel straight out of a movie set. * Ancient Roman Columns: Two 2,000-year-old marble monoliths framing the Palisades. 🚗 Why New Yorkers need to go -------------------------------- * Free and open to the public —no $25 ticket required! * Just 40 minutes via Metro-North Hudson Line to Greystone , then a short walk or Uber. It’s super simple * Seasonal displays: spring tulips, summer greenery, and even winter illuminations. * Perfect for a half-day escape with jaw-dropping Hudson River views. Untermyer isn’t another tulip bed in a city park. It’s a resurrected Gilded Age dream , once hailed as America’s most spectacular, now reborn as a free riverside oasis just a short ride from Manhattan . Between its cinematic architecture, multilayered gardens, and wild history, it’s the kind of place you’ll keep returning to—and everyone else is just starting to catch on. Source: https://secretnyc.co/untermeyer-gardens-yonkers-ny/