Rip Van Winkle Gardens

My parents came in town and we were looking for a botanical garden to go to, decided on rip wan winkle after a coworker suggested we go there. It was beautiful weather, all of the gardens are outside. Very well manicured and the breeze from the lake was lovely. They have a bit of history about the property available if you are into that. there is a informational video to watch, a tour of the house (you aren’t allowed to go in the basement or upstairs) and many adjacent buildings to look at. There is a cafe and a gift shop. We ate at the cafe and sat outside. They have awesome yeast rolls and sweet tea. I highly recommend getting an Arnold Palmer. Typical lunch options, the sandwiches were good. We didn’t make it for spoonbill season but they also have peacocks on the property. A fun half day adventure and I’d definitely go back when the spoonbills come (they leave around August and come back for spring)

Our 2nd overnight trip/stay at Rip Van Winkle Gardens, we absolutely love everything about this place! The cottages are up-scaled, clean, and cozy. The food at Café Jefferson is impressive sized and delicious (we had enough for leftovers both visits). The gardens are well-kept and beautiful. They have the best romantic sunsets while sitting beside the lake! And of course, the peacocks will be something you won’t forget! We’ve done the house tour and loved the gift shop (the Orange Island coffee sold there is probably my favorite coffee roaster in Louisiana!) The staff is friendly and helpful. Highly recommended and we will continue to return for special occasions.

Great place to walk around, it is so beautiful there. The Peacocks are probably my favorite. The restaurant was awesome! Our waitress was so sweet and attentive, Dusti? I believe. I have told so many people about it already and cannot wait for a return trip. See ya soon!

We had a lovely time visiting the gardens, going to the restaurant for lunch and getting a house tour from a guide who had so many interesting stories. The house is stunning, although you're not allowed to take any pictures. The story of the first owner, Joseph Jefferson, who worked in the traveling theater and played rip Van Winkle is fascinating. The story of Lake peigneur is even more fascinating! Astonishing even. There's a short film on it in the theater that loops continually. Although there are no signs on the beautiful plants in the garden, we used an app (in my case Google Lens) to find out what they were and they were easily identified. The restaurant is definitely worth going to! They have huge sandwiches but you can sometimes buy half or a quarter and a quarter was just fine for me! You can also get hot tea there and if you ask you will be given a pot of hot water and a good selection of tea bags of different varieties of black tea and herbal. Loved it! Of course, being that this is Louisiana, everybody is super friendly and super helpful.

We enjoyed our visit here even though the time of year meant that the gardens weren't in full bloom. The grounds were definitely beautiful and there were lots of unique areas in the gardens, but their map is not to scale and nothing is clearly labeled. It made it difficult to navigate and figure out where we were at any given time. The house tour was interesting, but you only got to see the first floor which was disappointing. We didn't eat at the cafe since it was packed and we didn't stay on the property, but it looks like they operate a bed and breakfast in their old servants' quarters.

Aesthetic beauty with 35 peacocks roaming around the property. Rookery , lake view, cottage, talking cockatoo made this place worth visiting. We did not try the cafe and shop but the decoration seemed nice. My 8month baby and my family enjoyed a lot. Ticket price is reasonable.

Attended a wedding there recently. We were pushing it to get there on time and we did, barely. So, this review is kinda 1 sided. Everything we saw was amazing. From the grounds outside where the wedding took place to the surrounding areas close to wedding area. The building (not sure what to call it) where the reception took place was nice and seemed set up well. My only regret is not being there early enough to see more of the place, but I am content with what I did see, the peafowl, and an awesome sunset over Lake Peigneur. Maybe I can get back there one day and see the rest. Very beautiful drive into the place too, once you turn off the main road.

Such a peaceful and beautiful place! Lots of improvement going on at the site right now. We strolled through the gardens, greeted the peacocks and enjoyed all the enormous oaks with Spanish moss. Don't miss the photos displayed at the gift shop & sign on the lake shore to learn the fascinating history of the lake! It will blow your mind. The gift shop has a lot to offer as well.

Simply beautiful, this is truly a hidden gem as most will go to Avery Island to see Tabasco hot sauce birthplace, but this is a must on any list, if only to see the beautiful peacocks, and gardens are breathtaking to include the lake. Great for outdoor weddings.

This has to be the most beautiful lunch spot in Louisiana... rolling hills covered in gardens and live oaks, calmly strutting peacocks, and panoramic vistas of a beautiful lake. The beverages are delicious, the gumbos solid, and the entrees are hearty. The paninis seem a bit out of place, but the rest of the menu has plenty to choose from. My relatives love the chili, however my favorite dish is the eggplant Michelle, a seafood and eggplant casserole in a hot ceramic dish. The house bread is fresh and satisfying. The Caesar's salad is missing the sharpness in its sauce and there seems to be another type of cheese subbed in for the Parmesan... other than that the experience is wonderful.

This place is absolutely stunning! Built on an ancient salt mine, the elevation of the gardens are an amazing sight for this part of the state. Rich in history and even the site of some of Jean Lafitte's buried treasure, these gardens are sure to amazing you with their lovely foliage. Here you will find peacocks roaming the grounds. You might get lucky and have one visit you while dining outdoors at the Jefferson Café. The Jefferson Café is home to an award-winning crab, au gratin, and it's everything it boasts itself to be. The gardens are a wonderful place to meander through both native and imported flora, catch an early afternoon lunch, or host a private event such as a wedding.

This was our second visit. We love the gardens, the peaceful setting, and the interesting story. The gardens are certainly a must see when in this area.

What an interesting story and a beautiful garden in historic home. Be sure to watch the big screen where it tells you about the incident that happened, which flooded the salt mines back in the 90s.

First time ever going to the gardens, toured the home and cafe. Everything was beautiful and the food was excellent! We will be back in the near future. A must to go visit! And especially to eat! We were told , that there's usually a wait for the cafe, but it's very much the wait! Great service and great food!!

A step back in time. Soaking in the history. Lots of peacocks roaming the grounds and all the males were out showing their colors for the females. Take a tour of the plantation home and learn the history of the house and the owners and the property. Walk the grounds and take in the beauty of the gardens. Stop and eat at Cafe Jefferson for a great meal then hit the souvenir shop on your way out. A must stop and experience one of Louisiana's many hidden gems and wonders.

Wonderful setting amidst centuries old live oaks, glass looking out over the grounds and lakes, and simply outstanding food and service. I highly recommend any choice on the menu but finish with the hot lava cake with ice cream!

. I grew-up in this area and once lived in Delcambre. Jefferson Gardens is a beautiful & historic place; often visited during a trip to the nearby but more famous "Avery Island Gardens", home to the McIlhenny's TABASCO peppers plantation and factory. There are several co-located businesses at Jefferson, including the delightful JEFFERSON Cafe, the Gardens Tours, a Gift Shop, etc. The Cafe is a wonderful lunch stop, with typical regional menu, starring very fresh local seafood dishes. There is. a major shrimping port just down Bayou Carlin, sometimes called the "Delcambre Canal". When in an area famous for one food type, choose from that genre ! Here it is SHRIMP, crab, oysters, marine fish, & crawfish. We have eaten here numerous times since returning some 20 years back, and are never disappointed. Views of the Gardens and Lake Peigneur are tres-beau. Tips: Take a small ice chest, visit the Delcambre Port boats & shops, and ask for fresh, NEVER-FROZEN shrimp from the many local boats. Also, Cafe entry is "free", but there is a small fee if one wants to leave the building/parking complex to stroll through the Gardens. This beautiful place is within 30" drive from Lafayette, New Iberia, Abbeville, etc. just off LA14, a few miles West of US90. IH10 is some 45" to the North. Rick

What a lovely spot. I was disappointed that no pictures are allowed inside of the house, and tours are only done on the first floor, but it was lovely as well. There are many paths to walk along in the gardens. What a rich place to go to. An armband is required to tour the house and gardens, but prices are very reasonable.

Beautiful gardens! We came from Baton Rouge to visit. The lady at the admissions desk was so nice and friendly! She was able to answer all questions about the area as well! The gardens are lovely! Peacocks were roaming all around and we were able to go right up to them for photos. It was a little confusing to know which way to go around the trails, but so much to see! The sunken chimney was pretty cool! I loved the views of the water. Lots of plants and flowers were in bloom as well. We didn't take a tour of the house. We just walked around the outside. I would definitely recommend coming here. I would like to also add that the gift shop doesn't over charge their stuff. I've noticed that most places like this charge so much for shirts and stuff. But I was happy to see decent prices for the shirts. So I bought one!

Even though it is winter and the gardens weren't in full bloom it was still beautiful and serene. some plants were actually in bloom. We really enjoyed our time there! We plan to visit in spring so we can see the gardens in full bloom.

Hosted my daughters wedding reception in the gardens on May 7th. From the beginning, Angie was a incredibly accommodating and helpful. She assured that my daughter's, and her husband's, day would be exactly what they anticipated if not more. It was perfect. The only hiccup was the band being difficult with the set up. Angie gave them every possible option to accommodate them. The setting was enchanting. The service throughout planning and evening was impeccable. I highly recommend!

Joseph Jefferson was one of the most famous American actors with international acclaim of the 19th Century and after the War of Northern Aggression in 1869 he purchased Orange Island in New Iberia, Louisiana. Orange Island was renamed Jefferson Island and sits next to Lake Peigneur. The Joseph Jefferson Mansion was built on a salt dome on Jefferson Island in 1870 as a winter home for the actor (he was very wealthy and had many homes). When Joseph Jefferson died in 1905 his heirs sold the property to a partnership of John Lyle Bayless, Sr., Paul Jones and E. A. McIlhenny (of the Tabasco sauce family). The gardens were developed by John Lyle Bayless, Jr. (son of the Sr.) and the space came to be known as Rip Van Winkle Gardens in honor of Joseph Jefferson's most noted acting character that brought him fame and fortune. Lake Peigneur was the site of a notable catastrophe on November 20, 1980 when an oil rig contracted by Texaco accidentally drilled into the Diamond Crystal Salt Company salt mine under the lake . The lake drained into the hole flooding huge caverns left from years of salt mining. The result was a days long event as the resulting whirlpool sucked in the drilling platform, eleven barges, buildings, trees and 65 acres of the surrounding terrain. So much water drained into those caverns that the flow of the Delcambre Canal that usually empties the lake into Vermilion Bay was reversed, making the canal a temporary inlet. Air displaced by the water flowing into the mine caverns erupted through the mineshafts as compressed air and then later as 400 foot geysers. This chain of events changed the lake from a 10 feet deep freshwater lake to a 200 feet deep saltwater lake. Fortunately no injuries and no human lives were lost during this event and New Orleans musician Armand St. Martin has a song about this incident. Today the Rip Van Winkle Gardens offers both a tour of the Joseph Jefferson Mansion and the surrounding gardens along with offering accommodations if you want to stay on site. They have a welcome center that includes the gift shop where you purchase your tour tickets, the Jefferson Cafe that is open for lunch and a movie theatre where you can see a film on the history of the island. Depending on your timing you might end up doing the house tour or the garden tour first and the hosue tour is guided only and is a good tour while the garden tour is self guided. The gardens also include a few musters of peacocks, a Japanese tea house, fountains, wells, wildlife (with over 260 species of birds), multiple statues around the property along with a Bali stone carved gate and various other artwork surprises. Many of the items in the garden are slightly hidden and there are many winding paths so you really need to do some exploring to find all the hidden gems around the property so dedicate some time to this tour. Tip: Take a Saturday to do the Avery Island Tabasco Sauce and Jungle Garden tour in the morning with a breakfast at the Tabasco Restaurant 1896 then do lunch at Rip Van Winkle Gardens Jefferson Cafe and do that tour in the afternoon for a full day adventure. Then head into Lafayette and stay at the Blue Moon Saloon & Guesthouse get some ice cream at the Borden's Dairy Dip across the street then go back to the guesthouse to enjoy the music then Sunday go to the Blue Dog Cafe for brunch.

Beautiful place, suggest doing the tour first, spent about 3 hours here, could've spent longer if we had eaten& watched the film( "theatre" freaked me out tho)

This was a lovely day. ***if you do need a walker Or ***wear oxygen it's probably not a tour of the gardens that you can complete. But walking in the air-conditioned home is lovely. It is amazing to see a different way of living from over 150 years ago, along with 100 years ago, and most recently 50-60 years prior. Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable & encouraged us to ask questions or stop him if we couldn't hear. It was so fun!

This place is beautiful... Simple here goes.... Park in the dirt lot, bring your camera and some water (maybe some bug spray) also beware of the fire ants... just a heads up.. Go to the front office/gift shop and pay your admission at the counter 10 bucks per person.. you get a wrist band... Nice bathrooms outside in the back off the wooden deck... exterior ceiling fans, beautiful courtyard fountain, Spanish moss hanging from the trees, along the water, absolutely beautiful... birds singing.. gorgeous We headed over to the Jefferson House for the tour, all in which was a ridiculously beautiful walk through the gardens... I mean ridiculously beautiful.. I believe the tour of the Jefferson House is on the hour every hour, and we had our own very private tour.. The guide was very helpful.. I can't believe the detail that went into this home along with the history it holds. They offer ice cold water bottles to the guests. The Bed and Breakfast cottages are amazing, fully updated with modern amenities, including snacks, wine, the works.. Air-conditioning and at a very competitive pricing in comparison to the (excuse my language) shitholes that claim a "Bayou Experience" I would go with this place times a million... I mean quaint clean accommodations amongst these beautiful gardens... words can't express the beauty and majestic feeling you get while being here. If I lived in Avery Island.. I probably would have had my wedding here as well....

What a wild spot! This is the site of a huge environmental disaster back a few decades ago. An oil company was drilling in the swamp, when the drill bit pierced a salt mine deep under the swamp. The lake drained through the hole into the salt mine, nearly sucking the crew of the drilling rig underwater. It did take down barges, boats, tankers, etc. before the situation normalized. The oil companies had to pay out millions in damages to the people living here. Now, it's a beautiful garden, an Asian styled antebellum plantation. It looks like plantations out of the movies as you drive up to the place. There's a great gift shop that sells lacquered alligator heads, cajun coffee, postcards and locally made jewelry. There's a restaurant on site.

This is some of the most beautiful property with a very interesting history. I would highly recommend anyone visiting the area to check this place out. The tour is around $10 and about an hour long. I would have given this place 5 stars, but I wasn't that impressed with our tour guide. There is a hiking trail with peacocks hanging out. It really made me want to invest in a few peacocks just to have around. They are truly gorgeous birds. There is also a cafe on the property, which deserves about 2.5 stars so definitely don't waste good Louisiana eating time on this crap shack.

Greeted by peacocks in the parking lot and a paradise-like setting. Who would have known? I sure didn't. Another dazzling discovery (thanks to a friend) in Louisiana and not that far of a drive from Baton Rouge (1.5 hours tops). The grounds were gorgeous lined with lush greenery and oh-la-la, you'll encounter a few steep slopes on your stroll. Peacocks squawking (is that the sound they make?) on the rooftops and on the pathways of the property. We were hungry, so their on-site restaurant - Caffe Jefferson - was our first stop. It was lovely to sit outside on such a beautiful day and overlook Lake Peigneur. The restaurant service was superb, the rolls were outstanding and the food was even more of something to talk about. Homemade chili and Eggplant Michelle were the savory dishes that graced our table. It was a magical day. After lunch, we frolicked the grounds and made our way to take the final tour of the Joseph Jefferson Mansion. Though the tour seemed very much rehearsed and somewhat robotic, it was still very informative and detailed. The gardens presented some fabulous opportunities for photos, so we definitely took advantage of those times. I am not going to give too much away about this hidden gem because I want you to come visit. The Rip Van Winkle Gardens was worth the drive and was just an all around exquisite experience. It was only $10/adult and $8/8 years and older. Hopefully, we will be back soon. As cute as they are, don't pick-up any of the stray kittens, you'll risk getting bitten or scratched (like me).

Awesome experience. My wife and I had the entire property to ourselves for the night. The staff was very welcoming and friendly, and the property is beautiful. I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone even remotely interested. The food at the cafe is great as well.

This is a special place. I like gardens as much as the next guy, but this place has something many gardens do not: a soul. You feel you are in a sacred place that you oughtn't be. The home on the property is from the mid-1800s and is breathtaking. The gardens are very well manicured--and mostly of things that are native Louisianian. They have a zen, or Japanese tea, garden thing going on. And that could get cheesy quick. But it's done with just the right balance and hits the right notes. What really stands out is the very location of the gardens--nestled on a lake that offers the must angelic of breezes. Everything merges together into something extraordinarily special. Very much worth the low cost of admission.

From gorgeous plants to Japanese tea houses! Peacocks! Statues from Bali. Buddhas. A wishing well. Lotus garden. Surrounded by natural water. Birds. Butterflies. A stunning site! A must see! Short drive from Lafayette.

I attended a friends wedding at the gardens. The location was really a great setting for it. The lake at sunset is incredibly romantic and a great backdrop for an outdoor event. Reception in the reception hall is nice. It is a little dated and if you are planning an event here you should plan on some extensive decorating. Not knowing anything about the rest of the gardens I found them wonderfully eclectic. I'm planning to go back and spend more time walking around the gardens and maybe eating at the restaurant.

For having the words "Gardens" in the title, I expected to see more flowers and landscape. There really wasn't much. I have seen more on a visit to any retail garden center. All things considered, for $10, I also found the price to be high. Only the lower part of the house is covered in the tour. The food is also on the pricey side, though I could be wrong (if it's "that good" and maybe it is). Don't take kids unless they can follow the no-touching rules inside the house. You cannot take pictures inside either, with or without a flash! The peacocks are one of the more memorable experiences. They fly up into the grand scale trees, one of which is over 500 years old. I wouldn't go back, but it does seem like a great place to host a wedding.

Stayed here at their bed and breakfast. Amazing, when the house closed and everyone went home we had the entire place for ourselves.

Lovely. The gardens are beautiful and in spite of the 98 degree weather the shaded path was very nice. I was fortunately wearing tennis shoes, but sandles might make it difficult to walk on the pea gravel path. The tour of the house was very interesting and sitting on the porch afforded us a cool breeze even in July. Lunch was amazing at the Jefferson Cafe with an elegant setting and outstanding service. The menu had a variety from light lunch sandwiches to elaborate cajun fare. We chose the Crawfish Cardinale and Crabmeat Augratin and were certainly pleased. It was a fabulous outing for these locals.

I LOVE this place! My wife and I stumbled upon it last year when we were searching for a venue for our wedding. It is absolutely beautiful. From the Jefferson House to the Japanese Tea House, there is some great architecture out here. The gardens are always pristine and colorful with a wide variety of flowering plants and trees. The stately oak on the lakefront sets the scene for a picturesque Louisiana sunset(or wedding in our case ; ) ). We decided to return for our first anniversary and stay at one of the B&B cottages. They are very spacious and comfortable. They have a quaint, late 1800's feel with modern touches for convenience. I really can't say enough good things about this place and it's very welcoming staff. I would recommend it to anyone. We will definitely return!

Stunningly beautiful. Went here while visiting family and fell in love (I've actually decided I will be having my wedding here!). The ladies in the gift shop where you purchase tickets are incredibly sweet and helpful. We sat down and viewed a video about the island's history and went on our merry way to tour the gardens. It was absolutely breathtaking! The animal life was booming and we got to see several gorgeous peacocks, snakes, beautiful butterflies and other birds and insects. The bamboo were huge and pretty as we're the flowers and other plants. The bayou was also beautiful. There was a wedding ceremony and rehearsal set up which was definitely a deciding factor on choosing this place for my wedding next year. The gift shop also has some fun nick knacks and trinkets for purchase. Got me a cute little yellow voodoo doll for luck and success! Next time I'm down in LA for a visit, we plan on staying in one of the several bed and breakfast cottages on site. Such an awesome experience!

Great place to spend an afternoon or the entire day. The course of action is to first;eat at the café, second; tour the Jefferson house, third; peruse the gardens and take in the beautiful scenery, and finally fourth; spend all your spare change on the knickknacks in the gift shop. The gardens is now and has always been my favorite place to go when I'm in this part of Louisiana. Stay at the bed and breakfast for a real treat.

Beautiful place! Every aspect of this garden is perfect. I literally walked around the garden a few times. There are peacocks roaming the land and I believe I even saw a white peacock. The house tour was also very interesting. It doesn't hurt to learn a little history about the house and land! The tour guide was very knowledgable, she won't make it boring. Also a big plus, you get to take a break from the heat (: I would highly recommend this place! Statues, garden, house, birds, and the view of the lake is perfect!

Definitely my favorite restaurant in New Iberia. The seafood heaven is just, well, heavenly! Always perfectly cooked. The rolls are the best in town. This year we went for their special Valentine's Day dinner. It was amazing and super romantic. I love how they only had two seatings so it felt private and special. May have to make this our new tradition!

Well maintained gardens just outside of New Iberia. They have a large variety of plants in great landscaping. The house tour is nice but a little short.