Oak Park Conservatory

We visited the Observatory on a Saturday, and it looked like they had a couple events going on both inside and outside but it was a separate area from the walk through. It was a bit smaller than I thought it would be based off the photos but even still the plants and layout were beautiful. Its near a residential area and parking was easy, I'd say we parked maybe a black away. We walked up and entered through the main entrance and signed in. They had one of those penny machines that flatten and shape a new design on the penny (it took 2 quarters plus the penny) and its so cute! It took only about 10-15 minutes to walk through but we took our time and enjoyed getting up close to the plants and revisiting some so we spent maybe 30 total minutes in the greenhouses. They had two birds that looked healthy and happy and were responsive when we said their names. I loved them both! Overall I loved being here, seeing the plants, especially the black ZZ which is on my list!

Lovely little place with a variety of plants to see in three main rooms. The tropical room was stunning and felt like a little world apart. I also enjoyed the more arid room with lots of succulents and cacti - amazing how huge some of them are! There are a few places to sit down if you need to. You can see everything pretty quickly, but there's nothing to rush you if you prefer to linger. Will be back again sometime!

Oak Park Conservatory is a hidden gem that’s well worth a visit. While parking out front is limited, we were able to find a spot without trouble. The conservatory itself is small and easy to explore, but the quality of the plants and care is outstanding. Everywhere I looked, I saw thriving, well-maintained plants—many of which I recognized and loved. The desert room was my favorite, with an impressive variety of cacti and succulents. The staff was friendly and eager to answer questions, and the bathrooms were clean—a small but important detail. My only concern was for the parrots. Overall, this is a great spot for plant lovers or anyone looking for a peaceful, well-kept space to explore. Highly recommend!

I had my son’s 5th bday party here February 2025. Amazing, fun & unique experience. From making bird toys ,doing a scavenger hunt in the garden, making terrariums to take home to then sing happy birthday with Skipper & Sara the parrots! 😀 🎉 Staff was friendly and accommodating! They only do 2 hour parties during select weekends but it’s more than enough time for the kids. All for an affordable price! I recommend this to anyone that has kids that loves nature or has a nature theme party of any kind. It was such a nice break from the usual play place. We had about 20 kids and 30 adults, plenty of room in the party space and the garden was accessible the whole time, even after the party which some of my guests stayed to really check it out. Memories was made Thank You Oak Park Conservatory!!

There gnomes exhibit was super cute a pop of color at every corner, definitely enjoyed the greenery and flowers. Very beautiful space only asking for donations no tickets required. I feel like this is a great way to give back to your community. Can’t wait to come back for their next exhibit.

Such a lovely little conservatory park. Have lots kind of plant. It’s well-maintained. The parrots are adorable. I had a great time

Have you ever heard a bird meow? My gosh! I didn’t think I’d love this place as much as I did! Came for the plants and stayed for the adorable birds 🤣 While walking through the forest, to my surprise, we came upon a couple cages.. and I got to talking to the feathered fellows that were in there, you could guess how shocked I was when I got a meow in response 😆 The grey one instantly became my best friend, as I have three cats at home. I’m glad we were there when it was empty because I was whistling and meowing back to the bird as I walked through the greenhouse, I’m sure if there were others there they’d have thought I was crazy. Another added bonus - if you come during the winter, the warmth and the all the greenery inside this place makes you forget how cold it is outside! 😅 Admission is free but I suggest checking out the seeds they have up front, the artwork alone on the packages is worth a gander and a splurge! 😄

The Oak Park Conservatory is a small, tranquil, and rejuvenating destination for nature lovers. Upon entering, you're surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and a peaceful atmosphere. The conservatory is meticulously maintained, featuring distinct climate zones that showcase tropical, desert, and temperate plants. It’s an ideal spot for plant enthusiasts, photographers, or anyone looking for a serene escape. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, always eager to share information about the various plant species. With free entry, it offers exceptional value for such a unique experience. Donations are welcome, enhancing the opportunity to support this beautiful space. Oak Park Conservatory provides a delightful and educational retreat worth exploring.

This place is small and intimate but it was so nice. Now, when I say that it's small, I'm referring to the greenhouse side. It isn't a huge park, but it is big enough for a little adventure. The plants are well kept. There are so many, and they don't have signs for them all, lol. So have your identifier app ready, lol. The temperature is set to maintain the plants, so you may want to have a nice jacket that you can take off while being inside. Other than that, the plants are beautiful and huge! They had parrots!!!! Lol, they weren't too talkative (until you walk away, lol) This is a great place to visit and take in different beautiful species of plants, the water system that they have set up as a coy pound, the HUGE plants that they have .... it is a great substitute for a botanical garden visit. Oh... AND IT'S FREE!!! LOL

We had a 5 year old bday party there and it was a blast! So well prepared and they really think of everything. They have 2 main activities (terrarium craft and scavenger hunt) and two smaller activities to keep the kids busy in between (coloring and bird toy making). They have two staff to help with kids. We found with 5 year olds, having 4 extra adults was nice. They supplied tablecloths and a happy birthday banner. It was an easy way to celebrate and I would recommend. Sean did a great job being a host for the conservatory

It's always a relaxing time with my kids there. The children's garden is fun and I love the quiet.

A mini tropical and fun visit. I was looking up some fun things to entertain my five year old niece this weekend. She was Super Excited. Free admission to the public. The lady behind the glass counter was super friendly and helpful. Small but nice conservatory and botanical garden located in Oak Park. There is a donation box in the corner. Be sure to pay attention to the arrows on the ground that guides you in the right direction. Masks are required and hand sanitizer station are available. Its a smaller conservatory than Garfield's but it is still worth the visit. There are 3 talking parrots that would only say hello. A pond that has fishes. There are three indoor showrooms: the Mediterranean room, Tropical room, Desert room and a urban outdoor garden (Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden & Rubinstein Garden). True amazing hidden gem in Oak Park

This place is heaven. I went here on Sunday and I absolutely enjoyed myself. From the outside this place looks small, but you quickly step inside a leafy green oasis. Even for a weekend visit the place wasn't crowded and I only crossed one other couple in there. I didn't expect to spend a whole hour here & I'm looking forward to going back already. They also have parrots! Skipper, Sara & George! George was super vocal & adorable. Admission is free & street parking nearby is free. The inside is pretty warm & humid for the plants so expect to sweat a little. There's a cute back area that looks like it will be fun for kids. I definitely recommend going & enjoying yourself!

I bet COVID-19 lockdown had a few of us going a bit crazy. When I realized that "Oak Park Conservatory" was open with the social distancing guidelines, I decided to pay a visit. The size of the garden was rather small, so it was definitely no comparison to the Garfield Conservatory. However, everything was well-maintained, surfaces were sanitized, and the staff was nice and personable when my friend and I walked in and signed in. They only allowed fifty (50) to be in the venue at one time. When we arrived, there was no one else. Of course it could be a different story if we came in on a Saturday or a Sunday. One thing that was worth to mention was that there were restrooms available. They were clean. I spotted the hourly janitorial schedule posted by the mirrors and the sheet contained the signatures from the crew. I would say they were doing their job just fine. If you were there to chill for a considerable amount of time, the bench in the outdoor garden was the only option. The sun was scorching that day, and there was no shade to back it up. Nevertheless, there were some seating available throughout the indoor portion of the garden. I would say it was still hot if you want to stop by on a 90-degree day. I enjoyed talking to one of the parrots, George. He was the most responsive one out of the four. Everyone else didn't seem to appreciate our presences. Anyway, it's essentially free to visit, yet donations are suggested. "Oak Park Conservatory" closes on Mondays (based on the memo on the entrance). I highly recommend it if you are near the area. CTA Oak Blue Line station is also within the walking distance.

Such a great place to visit. It's smaller then the Garfield conservatory but just as lovely. Awesome assortment of wild pants and cactus.

This is a great place to swing by and visit. There are three beautiful birds to visit who love attention. There are three different rooms to visit plus an awesome discovery garden for the kiddos. Parking is plentiful and right in front.

Small garden with really impressive COVID precautions. Everything was well maintained and beautiful. Great way to enjoy the weather and stay safe/healthy!

AMAZON PARROTS, BEAUTIFUL, FAMILY FRIENDLY I decided to take a break Wednesday, August 7th, 2019. The Oak Park Conservatory is small, beautiful, relaxing and free. It's family friendly. Come say "Hello" to George the Amazon parrot. You can see everything in the conservatory in under 45 minutes. There are lots of tropical plants and cacti plants on display. There are several small water features. There are lots of giant koi fish. HUGE! There are several Amazon parrots in very large cages. George, the Amazon parrot, responded to my hello! George the parrot was happy to say, "Hello" over and over again. I even asked George "How are you today?" George repeated the word, "Fine, Fine, Fine!" It was very entertaining to listen to this very smart Amazon parrot answering questions. He even knows his own name. There is a section where young toddlers can play in a sand box. It was 89 degrees. Excited children were skipping through water sprinkling systems. I took a picture of this section. If you have young toddlers or children under age 6 this may be a perfect spot for your little ones. There were lots of young mothers with young toddlers running all over the place. It was not chaotic. The mothers were very respectful and surprisingly so were the little ones. I did not see older children in this section, but there is no age restriction. It was amazing watching these little kids having fun splashing in the water and playing in the sand box. One young child was digging in the sand as if though he was on an archaeological dig! Adorable. Hit up the Oak Park Conservatory for the following reasons: (1) It's a great place to go with young children; (2) It is family friendly; (3) Amazon parrots that really talk; (4) It's small; (5) You can see it in under 45 minutes; (6) It is free (a sign at the entrance way has a suggested donation); (7) It is close to the Eisenhower expressway; (8) street parking only but it is free parking (9) It is a beautiful Conservatory managed by the Oak Park - Park District; (10) Huge koi fish and lovely water features and finally (11) It's very relaxing, quiet, beautiful and peaceful. My 4 star review is based on having visited the Oak Park Conservatory more than 5 times. Hit up the Conservatory during the week. Plus, it's not crazy crowded during the week. Don't go on weekends unless you go when they open. We arrived at 10:15 a.m. and parked in front of the building. There is also a bike rack to the left of the main entrance. If you are an avid biker you can lock up your bike securely. There is a Culvers 0.4 miles away from the conservatory on Roosevelt Road. We stopped off at Culver's after we finished going through the Oak Park Conservatory. There is also an excellent Latin American restaurant very close to the conservatory. Very good food! The Oak Park Conservatory is family friendly, beautiful, free, small and fun. Come visit George the Amazon parrot. The conservatory is very close to the Eisenhower expressway.

A little gem in South Oak Park, I used to go there in the middle of the coldest days of winter just to go to a lush oasis in the middle of a harsh cold day. You can see it all under a half hour in this week run conservatory. After 35 years of coming here, I still go to the palm room and just chill for a few minutes.

This is a nice, small, and quaint conservatory to visit.  Visiting here is a nice way to spend a leisurely hour in an old school setting, and there are basically 3 rooms - a Fern room, a Tropical room, and a Desert room.  It probably would take most folks an hour at the most to meander through.  I particularly enjoyed the Desert room and meeting the 3 talking parrots in the Tropical room on this day (my newest friends Sara, George, and Skipper).  I couldn't get them to talk though, but the friendly receptionist Triseea (sp?) said to me, "oh no, they definitely talk, lemme show you!"  It was fun and nice of her to do a dance, appease them, and get them yakking!  I didn't do the dance, no wonder I couldn't do it.  I also enjoyed the old school feel and unique and historic physical setup there with the free albeit limited street parking right out front, the location being right on the southern frontage road for the I-290 Eisenhower, and also right on a residential street on its west side.  As it is a smallish venue, I would recommend visiting during an off-peak period if possible.  It's free admission but they work on a suggested donations basis. Worthy of a short visit!

It was very nice and clean. Both inside and outside were so much fun for both my sisters. They needed something to do during spring break and we though visiting here would be nice! We also went to the park down the block so if your kids are bored inside this should make for a fun day!

This conservatory is great for a quick 30 minutes to 1 hour tour. They have a wide variety of plants and even WILDLIFE! The parrots are extremely talkative and will copy anything you say! They also hold a sale every April to help fund their continual efforts.

First time there and I enjoyed it. Three rooms, mostly plants, trees, etc, very few flowers in public area. There were several flowers in the green houses (employees only, buy you can see through the glass). Middle room has a pond with fish and turtles. It also has three parrots. George, the double Yellow-head Amazon Parrot, liked to say hello and whistle. Sara, the Congo African Grey Parrot, was quiet. Barely whispered hello once. The third parrot was shy, didn't talk or look at people. They will have a plant sale in May, 2017. It's about 1/2 block from the CTA Oak Park Blue line stop. It's free but website suggests a $5 donation. Next weekend they are having a Fright at Night Friday evening.

This is a great place to visit in the Fall or Summer, a small conservatory that does a lot with a small area of space. Parking is an issue though.

A beautiful little conservatory in a safe neighborhood. Stop by for the plants but enjoy the birds and fish for a while. Small suggested donation goes into a box by the door. There are three rooms, Mediterranean which houses a giant lemon and red puffball tree among other flowers. Tropical house has the fish and birds among tall trees and other greenery. Finally you'll reach the desert house which is full of cacti and succulents. Don't miss the carnivorous plant display near the back.

Such a cute place! They have birds that you can view and the outside areas are beautiful (especially the flower wall on the back corner of the conservatory). Used this place for a photoshoot and they were so accommodating and nice. Will visit again and tell others that they have to come at least once!

I love this place in any season! All the rooms are beautiful and amazing.

Small and peaceful.. Great place to grab something to eat and relax while you eat. Wish it was more interactive.

What a nice spot to visit on a cold January day. Free to enter, friendly staff. It is on the smaller side but it's not crowded. A nice place to hold an event!

While this place may not be as large as some other conservatories it has a lot of other great attractions that make it worth visiting. Parking can be a little tight as I believe they only have street parking in the area but the crowd isn't as large so it isn't that difficult. They also have a couple parrots and a koi pong with some of the largest koi I've seen in it, the parrots will talk back to you and the bridge over the pond lets you get very close to seeing the fish. They have a tropic, desert and local plant exhibit and a small section that has several kinds of carnivorous plants!!!! They also have a small section to purchase some plants or other educational items, they have a recommended donation of $5 which is worth it for the fun and time we spent there.

This is a wonderful little place to visit. Fish, turtles and birds (caged) add some extra joy to this oasis.

Great place to visit Took my grandson there in 2018 and the staff was outstanding as well as the exhibits Can't wait to visit this year

I love this place very nice to go there and relax. worth the trip. i think i been there twice this year we enjoyed it with family.

Somehow I was coming to Oak Park every other week for a significant part of the winter and didn't realize this was here. The Conservatory is the perfect place to visit on a winter day when you want to pretend it isn't cold enough to freeze snot outside. Although it's a smaller space (three rooms), they've done a lot with it. There are plants hanging from the ceiling, meandering paths, a little hidden seat to sit and read if you like, and yes, the infamous birds. As Yelp's resident Crazy Bird Lady, it should come as no surprise that I loved meeting the birds. If I remember correctly, there were two cockatiels, a finch, a lovebird, an amazon, an african grey, and a conure. There are also clever mice who scamper around the cages, picking up food the birds drop and carrying it away on tiny, furry feet. (I like mice...can you tell?) Also, there's a large pond with very large koi and some turtles. If the huge ficus plants or blossoming cacti don't catch your eye, these animals might interest you. This facility also has a gift shop that sometimes sells plants, and there are rooms you can rent for events. There are special plant sales if you'd like a bit more selection than the gift shop usually offers. Plus, the Conservatory also holds special events for kids called Exploration Stations. Recent topics include Birds, Pollinators, Sugar, and Chocolate. Sounds good to me! These events, just like a regular visit to the Conservatory, are free, although they suggest a donation. You can also give back by volunteering; they train docents twice a year. Parking is pretty easy, the whole place is pretty kid-friendly, and it's conveniently located near both the highway and the CTA. You really have no reason to not go, unless you're afraid of the awesome.

Besides the three rooms of the conservatory (temperate, tropical, and arid), the facility houses sort of a community and educational center (housed in a large room on the opposite end of a central welcoming corridor from the first conservatory room. The different temperature and humidity rooms are divided by air-lock type doorways. Succulent plants displaying colorful blooms and fruits (giant lemons hung heavy on branches of a tree, making me at first think they were grapefruit!) in the first room, along with flowering coleus and amaryllis plants. The 3 cages of adult parrots are is the tropical middle room, where a central pond houses a family of koi with a giant mother fish. The last room contains cacti and bromeliads on sandy soil reminiscent of a desert setting. Yet even here, there are surprising touches of bright colors. Well worth a visit. Especially on the cold and snowy winter's day I happened in.

I had been planning on stopping by here for quite some time, and when I did I was very impressed with everything. Maybe it was because it was my birthday and it was hard to disappointment me that day, however, I thought the OPC was more fun and interactive than Garfield Park Conservatory. Don't get me wrong, Garfield Park has a lot more things going for it, one of them size, obviously. But, I feel that OPC has done a terrific job with what little space they have. The fact that they have animals (birds, fish, turtles...and mice which may not have been intentional but were still fun and cute) made the experience as a whole more enjoyable and is something that Garfield Park lacks. I loved that they have small plants for sale out in the lobby area (I bought three!) and some of the plants growing in the rooms are REALLY impressive..something I didn't expect! Also, the people that work/volunteer there are really pleasant and helpful! If you're in the area, you should definitely stop by...it's free after all!

Oak Park Conservatory is a wonderful place to take a break from the rest of the world and just be in nature. With three beautiful and well kept rooms (temperate, tropical, and arid), you're able to be in a variety of environments and feel at peace and refreshed, despite being only 50 feet from 290. While this place is much smaller than Garfield or the Lincoln Park Conservatories, it perfectly achieves what it's going for in that it's a well curated getaway in the heart of Oak Park. There's no cost to get in, and they're open most days. Highly recommend

A beautiful little conservatory in Oak Park. When you don't feel like spending half your day in plant heaven (i.e.the ginormous but awesome Garfield Park Conservatory) come here! They have a desert room, tropical room, and fern room. They also have lovely parrots and finches and a lovely pond full of beautiful koi. This is also a great place for kids since they frequently have cute little art displays geared towards kids. Last time I went they had fairies hidden throughout the fern room - too cute! A lovely place to wander around in when visiting Oak Park.

I am favorably prejudiced because I had my 2nd wedding ceremony here, but still an cool little slice of plant heaven, complete with a lemon tree that has REAL LEMONS in the winter. You can book an event here for a nominal fee, and it is a nice outing with your kids or your treehugger honey. Lots of knowledgeable folks here to answer your plant questions.

Me and my daughter rode my bike here a few weeks ago. She really enjoys looking at different flowers and plants. She thought the moss was scary =) And we were nicely surprised to see they had some beautiful birds in there as well. A nice pond where she threw 2 pennies in and made a wish for the nemos in there, and stones she could step on and feel like shes stepping through the stream. It was a perfect way to spend some time together. At the end she was so disappointed because she forgot her camera! She's 4.

OK, so maybe this wasn't the place to go when it was 74% humidity outside because it's muy tropical inside! I will definitely keep this in mind as a nice winter escape...bring a book and sit on the bench and read while the birds say "hello!" (freaked me out!). It's small and takes little time to go through but still lovely and a good location for macro flower photography - tons of color, patterns and textures to feast your eyes on. They also sell a few plants and have a new gift shop which will be expanding it's merchandise.

I love stopping in every time I'm home. It's free (though donations are welocme). The conservatory has a nice collection of plants, and even a few animals. There are several cages of birds-and some of them talk to you! One room has a small pond with turtles and large coi. Today, I did see a few tiny mice running through the plants, which was a little icky, but they stayed off the path, so it wasn't too bad. Several benches thorughout where you can simply sit and enjoy the scenery! I particularly love stopping by in the winter, when you can escape the cold, grey, dreary weather. I came today-one of hte hottest, most humid days, but it was still very relaxing and a nice little visit!

What a great little place I didn't know existed until just recently! It may not be as large as the Garfield Park Conservatory but I think I like it better because they have lots of beautiful flowers to photograph and the parrots are a delight.

This is such a wonderful place to walk through the snow to, and then escape the snow into. As everyone said, it's a nice little oasis, with surprises around every turn. My favorite part was that we brought my kid, who is deathly afraid of mice, here, and they seem to have a bad mouse problem. I enjoyed watching them skirting around the zillions of traps and munch on spilled bird food. They were fearless; I think one waved at me. My daughter, however, demanded to leave immediately.

Cute little conservatory in OP. It's a great place for people who are just starting out with photography to venture to. While its not as big as some of the other conservatory's don't let it's size fool you. It's well worth going here, if not for anything else but to smell the flowers.

Entering the OP Conservatory you feel as if you are climbing through the wardrobe and entering Narnia. You are instantly in another world. To experience this at its fullest you must visit in the winter months. Spring, Summer and fall are also great times to visit. They have different exhibits throughout the year, so be sure to visit a few times. Local artists works are on display in the main entryway, often for sale. Birds chirp, and sometimes talk, as you walk through the different houses. A large bullfrog named Jeremiah resides in a pond located in the Tropical Room. A huge catfish also prowls across the bottom of said pond. There are also small exhibits and kid friendly activities to do while wandering through to keep the little ones entertained. Keep in mind that a huge portion of the work done here is by volunteers. The people affiliated with this gem of a destination spend a great deal of their personal time to keep this place looking amazing. No admission is required, but a small donation is requested. (Just a box, no pressure).

Ahhhh! pure relaxation and beauty. This little treasure in Oak Park is just great for anyone that appreciates tranquility, nature, and tropical birds. Yes, don't forget to say Hi! to GEORGE and to teach him a few new words. He can get a bit loud but am sure you will fall in love with him.

Slightly smaller than expected but well done. There were differnet rooms that had variety of plants form other places. Cheap way to blow an afternoon at $2 a pop it was nice but would have paid more.

This conservatory is rather nice for the size that it is. There are three different rooms. I rather enjoyed the succulent and cacti room in the far back, mostly because it was a pleasant temperature, had a great color palate, and was the furthest away from the screaming children that were running through this place. The variety of plants was great, and the tropical birds were interesting to see as well. The fern room was very beautiful. My only real complaint is that there was mediocre jazz music playing in every room, which I thought was kind of bizarre and made me feel like I was in an elevator. Anyway, if you have a half hour to kill and are in the area, this is a good place do be.

This is a lovely conservatory with 3 rooms that are well equipped with paths, little benches, and a multitude of plants, flowers, and animals. A great place to visit as the temperature drops, and each room has its own theme and something special to offer. A great day trip, and if you bring kids, there's a park around the corner too!

A small but important oasis in the dead of Chicago Winter. OPC has a great annual plant sale and a bunch of worthwhile benefits for members. Definitely worth a visit if in the area and must visit if you live here.

This Conservatory is quite a delightful little gem! The three rooms aren't necessarily large, but are packed with plants, trees, flora, etc, I walked through each room several times at a slow pace to take it all in. The tropical room smells delightful, and the sound of running water and talkative birds make for a sweet escape. I happened to go on a sunny afternoon, and there was a group of teenagers doing some class thing, and much younger kids having a birthday party, the reactions from both groups were neat to overhear, they all seemed to enjoy and question, and of course the birds were very talkative back to them. I rode my bike, and there are a couple bike racks out front and on the side street, not sure of the parking situation. I look forward to many more visits!

This little gem is just a short stroll from my house, and it's a sure cure for cabin fever. Admission fees are on the honor system -- just put a buck or two in the box. The flowers, birds and babbling brook make you feel like you are on vacation.

What a great place. Plus it's free. There are two big rooms, and lots of parrots (in big cages). The birds are friendly and talkative. The African Greys liked mimicking the random sounds I made, which was neat. Staff was super nice too.

Want to forget about winter for an hour? Visit the Oak Park Conservatory. It's an oasis of plants, birds, fish and turtles! The cactus room will make you warm as toast. The fern room will make you think you took a magic carpet ride to a tropic paradise. And the talking birds will keep you company with their chatter. Make a wish and toss a penny in the pond, just don't hit the turtles that live there. Better yet, make a donation before you leave since all this is offered free of charge.

Although small in size, the OP Conservatory packs a great punch regarding their low rates for holding an event here. My best friend was looking at this venue to hold a wedding event and we were impressed at what they have to offer. There is a garden that you can rent along with room rental for your event. You can bring in your own food which is a definite bonus. We look forward to having a successful event here and I can hardly wait.

A pleasant little get-away in the middle of Oak Park. Beautiful and relaxing. Be sure to say hi to the parrot, George.