Spring Grove

Autumn perfection with history and calm Visited during peak fall color and it was stunning. Rolling lawns, a mirror-still lake with perfect reflections, and maples blazing from gold to deep red. I wandered from stately family mausoleums to quiet benches under the trees—every corner felt peaceful and beautifully kept. What I loved Foliage & light: Late-afternoon sun paints long shadows and sets the canopies on fire—fantastic for photography. Water features: The pond is glassy and ideal for reflections. Historic art & architecture: Sculptures and mausoleums (like ERKENBRECHER, McMASTER, McDONALD) add a timeless, museum-like feel. Space to breathe: Huge grounds, easy to find quiet spots to sit and reflect. Tips Best time for photos: 60–90 minutes before sunset (or early morning for soft light). Drive slowly; there are many narrow lanes and pedestrians. It’s an active cemetery—please be respectful around services and markers. I’ve attached photos from today to show the variety: a tree-lined bench scene, a Gothic-style chapel framed by leaves, brilliant maples, still-water reflections, and several historic monuments. If you’re in Cincinnati in autumn, this is a must-visit.

Beautiful area. Historical figures of the area are all here as are most of my ancestors. Most came as Cincinnati was establishing, working for the RR or finishing steamship interiors. One of my ancestor’s bought a family plot for which there are still a few open spots. My brother is already there and mt folks and I will join the old plot when it is our time. I love the history there!

​This is a beautiful cemetery with meticulously maintained grounds. Everything is serene, beautiful ,and amazing—the lakes, chapels, mausoleums, trees, gardens, and monuments. We've been a couple of times, and I know there's still so much more to see.

Beautiful cemetery! I have a weird interest in visiting cemeteries. I like looking at the headstones and mausoleums, especially the older ones. The walkways are so pretty here - and there are swans!

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is truly a hidden gem in Cincinnati. With its breathtaking 733 acres of beautifully maintained landscapes, it feels more like a stunning park than a cemetery. The variety of native and exotic plants, including the remarkable State and National Champion Trees, is incredible. The history behind the ‘lawn plan’ concept originated here is fascinating, and it’s easy to see why Spring Grove has become a model for cemetery design across the country. Walking through the grounds, you can’t help but admire the peaceful atmosphere and appreciate the artistry in the landscape. The combination of historic architecture, the Centenarian Collection, and the wide-open green spaces makes it a perfect spot for reflection or simply enjoying nature. This place has a heart and soul, offering visitors a magnificent resting place and a serene escape. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or simply searching for a tranquil experience, I highly recommend a visit .

If you are into Cemeteries, historical headstones, want to see some of the most stunning, detailed family plots, crypts and statues...then this is the Cemetery for you. The 3rd largest Cemetery in the United States, you need to dedicate an entire 8 hr or more day to exploring this place. We came back e days in a row for 2 hours each time and I feel like there was so much that we missed. I adore that this is also an Arboretum and that the interesting trees and flowering plants are marked.

Came and paid respects to a Titanic passenger Survivor. A huge and gorgeous cemetery she's laid to rest in.

This is a beautiful, historic cemetery that gives visitors a glimpse into the historic families of Cincinnati. Many of the monuments and headstones are truly unique works of art. The cemetery is also filled with massive, old growth trees. The roads are winding, so it may be difficult to navigate, but it is a fascinating place to discover.

This is such a beautiful cemetery! This has always been a favorite place of mine. I used to come here with my grandparents when I was a child to feed the ducks and have taken photos throughout the grounds. I shot my niece's senior portraits here and my brother got married here. And since it's a cemetery - my husband and I both have family members buried here. We recently held my MIL's funeral and burial here. Since we knew that she would be passing we were able to plan ahead by a couple of days - making it all go a little smoother. Everyone that we dealt with was helpful, kind and efficient. The service was beautiful and we were pleased with how 'easy' the process was from death to burial.

I've been to a number of different "park" cemeteries including Hollywood in Richmond VA and Mount Auburn near Boston as well as the Pere Le Chaise in Paris. This cemetery matches up to those in terms of the quality of the groundskeeping and the ability to navigate around the cemetery. The grounds here are beautiful and it's clear that the groundskeeping staff works hard to keep this place in excellent condition as a sign of respect to those who are laid to rest here. Salmon Chase (Governor and Supreme Court), Rudolph Wurlitzer (founder of the Wurlitzer company), Bernard Henry Kroger (founder of the Kroger supermarket chain), both Procter and Gamble. It's a revered place and it was a positive experience to visit these graves and pay tribute to those who came before. [Review 20494 overall - 221 in Ohio - 1474 of 2023.]

Huge cemetery and botanical garden. I like the really old monuments .. it's art and history all in one. Plus the botanical aspect .... mature trees, flowering bushes and flowers and lakes. This makes it ideal for critters ... birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer. Man made waterfall and a fountain, marble statues and crosses are beautiful. some people find cemeteries sad or scary but it's a great place to take a nature walk or sit and read. While i was there walking around enjoying the perfect weather and playing with my camera ... saw a couple having a picnic and laying on a blanket under the trees. I felt it was a lovely safe area but in the world we live ... always be careful as a woman alone. Its a huge place so be careful not to walk so far and get turned around or lost.

Beautiful and serene It is always inspiring to drive through old cemeteries. It gives you a small glimpse into the past and the life of so many. We were in town on a chilly day so we decided to drive through and view. Many people were also walking the winding grounds. My kids even enjoyed seeing the tombs and detailed headstones. We saw a trolley cart driving around so I am assuming they do tours as well.

Cool place to enjoy the nature. Kind of creepy going to a cemetary? It is over 600 acres just west of i75. This was my first time there. My wife took me there to enjoy the fall leaves. There are graves back to early 1800's. Prominent families bought giant plots around lakes, trees, bridges, roads etc. Roads were probably dirt paths. We saw benches to visit. Also saw statues, massive monuments and mausoleums with stained glass windows. One plot had a giant castle-like building. Many prominent families are buried there.

My husband and I took a trip around Ohio to check out many different cemeteries. This one was my favorite. Gorgeous area and peaceful. Felt very inviting and not like a normal cemetery. I can't wait to go back!

Sadly our Mother transitioned June 2024. My family reached out to Spring Grove Funeral Home. We were given a Funeral Director - Sylvester Dunn. He handled our Mothers' services. He was pleasant, knowledgeable, flexible, and professional. We were in situation that we have never encountered before. Mr. Dunn was patience and explained everything in great detail. I can be very demanding. The Henderson/Rhodes family would like to thank Mr. Dunn for the beautiful service.

Probably one of THE most beautiful cemeteries I have ever seen...I had no idea that 2yrs ago, my mom would be resting in such beautiful place. Right before Cincinnati reached lockdown mode, my mom suddenly passed away and my family and I had to do something we hadn't expected to do so soon, prepare for her funeral. As we rifled through papers and information trying to find what she and my father had decided on burial places, we discovered that they had bought plots at Spring Grove Cemetery. The few times I had previously driven by, the landscaping was always so beautifully groomed and the flowers during the springtime were gorgeous. So the thought of my mom being buried in such a peaceful haven of beauty brought such happiness to my heart. The Spring Grove Funeral staff were extremely helpful during our process and Sam, who headed our whole funeral arrangements was incredibly patient and guided us the entire way. We went to visit my mom this past weekend and since I've been writing these reviews as of recently, I thought it would be nice to give kudos to this beautiful place that provides such a calm and serene sanctuary to so many loved ones who have passed.

Beautiful place to see Well kept and interesting Not much to say about a historical cemetery

I love to come to the cemetery to hike the hilly terrain. At the top of the hill near Gray Road there are hidden tomb stones of two SpongeBob SquarePants.

A once a year event featuring chocolate vendors. You may sample such an array, and make purchases too! My second time to this outrageous delicious sampling event! It's a great time to buy gifts for Valentine's Day as well.

I wish we had more time to stroll through here. The weather was perfect but we didn't have much time. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. Like all cemeteries, it's peaceful. It's also full of charm and history. They have some headstones I've never seen including a tree-like cross and a casket. The cemetery is also huge! It's park-like setting appeals to walkers and joggers and I can see why. While I was there, I took about 40 photos on the BillionGraves app. There are over 10,000 photos with transcribed headstone and grave information. It's really easy to search for loved ones all over the world!

Peace and perfection. Completely calming experience. You could easily get lost and there are no bathrooms unless you want to crash a funeral to use the bathrooms but luckily there is a McDonald's near by. Plan accordingly. Parking is limited but you can park anywhere and explore. The trees are absolutely gorgeous. You could spend hours here. Days really! The lakes were packed with people getting pictures taken for engagements or weddings so we were not able to enjoy it but from afar. They have a forest preserve section that is completely peaceful and full of beauty. Highly recommend paying this place a visit. If not for the landscaping then for the history.

This is an excellent green space not too far from downtown Cincinnati. You might think that it would be odd to run or walk in a cemetery, but it is more like a beautiful park than a cemetery. Of course, there are lots of gravestones to see, but most are almost like a piece of art. There is a lot of history here. Make sure you stop in at the first building when you enter the cemetery to pick up a map and "tour guide". This brochure gives lots of information of the history behind the park, as well as a detailed map of the famous people from Cincinnati buried here. This is a great place to take a stroll -- and there are several trails marked for walking or running. It is also a great place to take pictures! The flowers (especially in the spring time) are gorgeous. You will certainly see wedding and senior pictures being done as you walk the park if it's a beautiful day. Make sure you go online and check the schedule, as they do offer some guided tours during the spring/summer on the weekends. When I did stop at the information desk inside the first building, everyone was very friendly and willing to help. On one trip when we were visiting, we got caught in the rain on a walk around the cemetery, and one of the workers offered to get us to a dry place. The staff was very nice!! Don't feel like walking? No worries. It's a beautiful place to drive through to look at the scenery and the flowers. All paths that people use for walking and running are also the paths for cars, so it is definitely able to be driven through. Definitely on my top 10 of places to see in Cincinnati!

Seems a little strange to head to a cemetery for a walk, but it's really beautiful here! Lots of people walking around, it really feels like more of a park than a cemetery. Everyone seemed respectful and there's some great architecture and landscaping here. It will be added to the list of parks that I like to frequent on nice days.

Beautiful place, and a lot of history. It was fascinating to read and see all the people's grave stone, it actually shows a lot from the family.. some family has really impressive grave stone, some family even has a huge bathroom size room monument with all the family members head stone in front of the monument which is really impressive.. the whole place is like a big park, u don't feel like u are walking in a cemetery.. i saw people riding bike here which should be quite nice.

Yes, I love cemeteries. When researching my trip to Cincinnati I was so happy when I discovered that one of the beautiful pictures I kept seeing was from a cemetery. We spent about half of a day driving and walking around Spring Grove Cemetery even though it was crazy hot outside. Every single place you turn is more beautiful than the next. The whole place is well cared for and I was so happy to find all the visitors being respectful. This is absolutely a photographers dream.

I can't say enough about this place- it's an absolute joy to visit this place. Totally gorgeous architecture, and tons of info at the desk in the visitor area to find out about all of the amazing people who call Spring Grove Cemetery home! Also a great place to Letterbox in! If you don't know what that is: look it up!!

I've only experienced a funeral service for a family member here once. It was beautifully done and respectful. This is where my grandmother will he buried and probably where I'd like to rest. Spring Grove is beautiful and the history is amazing. This place is large enough to give you lots of options for your service. This cemetery is also just a great place for the community. They allow bike riding and you can feed ducks at the ponds. The Chapel offers events every so often. We recently attended Chocolate in the Chapel. It was free to attend, you simply had to RSVP. While they were very strict about start time and check-in last year, this year was very laid back (no one asked for our name and we were allowed in before the event officially started). It became very busy and crowded very fast (as did last year). This event was a great way to showcase local bakeries and chocolatiers. Everyone had samples (except for one table) and then products to purchase so you could taste before you'd buy! My personal favorite was Chocolate Latour - every Truffle and bar is rich and exquisite!

I grew up in this area and had never been here until now. It's an absolutely beautiful and peaceful place to visit. You could spend days here and not run out of sites to see. The office has a great selection of maps for famous people, or to all of the plants and trees. I loved spending my day here. The ground crew was out and offered to share some information with us. I'm amazed at the history here. Some sites are so simple and some are so over the top like the Dexter mausoleum. Lots of people were out walking or biking. I would highly recommend visiting this cemetery. I can tell the care takers work hard to keep up it's beauty.

They no longer let you see your ancestors records online. It was quick and easy. Now they want to charge you and regardless of whether they find anything (or if they were thorough. What a rip-off and a waste of time. Probably they are afraid that the ghosts of those buried there (going back to the 1800's) might freak out.

Wow 2nd largest Cemetary in the United States. It is beautiful! I've not seen so many huge and lovely grave stones. Johnny Appleseed grave is here. Rolling hills. Worth a look

So beautiful, we went on a walk there during the spring and it was amazing. So many flowers and blooming trees. Lovely.

One can argue that it is the most peaceful place in Cincinnati. It gets even more quieter as one goes to the lots in the back. One can run here, enjoy the architecture of the gravestones and mausoleums, meditate on dash between birth and death dates called as 'life', take some pictures, etc. This place has something for most people. One of the drawbacks is that it closes at 6 pm for most days of the week. May be they don't want us to wake up the dwellers.

As a photographer, I take alot of my clients here. The lighting is always perfect and you can always find a different location to photograph as your backdrop. It's so huge here that I have not toured the whole cemetary! My favorite are the masoleums. How gothic and old they are. This is such a beautiful spot even to just take a stroll. I know it's a cemetary and sounds scary/intimidating, but you have to visit this place to experience the beautiness!

I felt very much at peace here. The cemetery is very beautiful and historical. It is one of the oldest and fourth largest cemeteries in the United States. It looks like a nineteenth century park. There are several scenic ponds with swans throughout the cemetery and a lot of large old trees. It is so lovely to just wander around, admire beautiful statutes and imagine the people's life stories. There are also a lot of famous people buried there. You can read about them before visiting the cemetery. I can only describe my experience as tranquil, moving and fascinating.

I recently suffered the sudden loss of my forty-three-year-old husband. I was lost and confused but was able to reach out to Venita Brown and Jonathan Douthitt. Both of them were so kind caring and considerate during my time of need. They both took the time to make sure that I understood everything that was happening and that my needs and the needs of my daughter were being met. I cannot thank Spring Grove enough for how well they handled my situation. I would recommend them every time.

I am with other Yelpers. The idea of taking a walk in a cemetery does sound fairly strange. Trusting the reviews of other Yelpers, I decided to take an out of town guest for a walk around a cemetery. This really is an arboretum. Grounds are beautifully maintained. Beautiful mature trees are all around. According to their website, there are several rare types of flora. Autumn colors in the trees really shone here. I got some beautiful pictures. I can't wait to see it in the Spring! There were several groups of people there, in gym clothes, taking walks, and going for runs. Signs are up to help direct walkers on 1 mile, 2 mile & 3.5 mile paths. I could see coming back for a walk.

Who knew people came here to hike and walk. Mix in well signed walking paths, interesting local history, and the second largest cemetery in the US... and you have a unique experience. We walked over 3 miles on a beautiful February Saturday. Residents were undisturbed by all the activity. Check it out.

I feel like corporate businesses only care about your money, instead of family owned businesses. There is a clear difference in service from this funeral home, to family owned funeral homes in the area.

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is a gorgeous plot of land filled with beautiful monuments and amazing trees. It's both a grave yard and a park as well as a great place to explore and hike. You may even want to have a picnic on one of the many open lawn areas among the burial plots. Don't get creeped out, though. The cemetery part of the equation is more like a museum than a scary graveyard. Set in among a managed forest of flowering trees, hardwoods and conifers, the arboretum part is like an idyllic botanical garden annual beds, lakes and fountains. Did you know that historically, the first public parks were cemeteries? It's true. These open areas were the best places for many urban dwellers to step into nature and relax. Plus they afforded kids some run-around space. Spring Grove provides all those things, as well as well maintained paved roads (for the drive-by visitors) that have color coded stripes indication varying lengths of trails (for walkers and cyclists). On a good day explore the graves of famous Cincinnatians, find Johnny Appleseed's memorial or hang out under one of the many champion trees. It's a great place for photographers, too--especially during the Spring bloom and the fall changing of the leaves. It's not unusual to see professionals taking family portraits and wedding pictures throughout the cemetery. In addition to the property itself, Spring Grove also offers a variety of events, seminars, tours and programs. On this particular visit we attended the first ever Maple Syrup Tapping class and tour. Some of the staff told us about their syrup production from the tapping of the trees to the boiling of the sap to the bottling of their syrup. They fed us pancakes and waffles in order to sample several of their own syrups and compare it with those of other producers. It was a nice event. So much to see and so much to do here. Check out their website for upcoming events and a map of the grounds. Then plan a visit. You won't be disappointed. http://www.springgrove.org/

What a spectacular place? Really! Came here one warm fall day for a walk among the graves and the trees. Ended up walking around for something like 4 hours. Once you thought you were done and hopped in your car, one loop around the pond would have you stopping to take in more unique grave stones; one has a man fishing, one is a petrified tree and many have unique statuettes. Either way, they are beautiful. One other thing, while the grave stones and monuments will immediately catch your eye, make sure to check out the trees as well. Many were varieties that I have never seen in my 28 years. It was fun to see something new and really very awing.

People are dying to get in to this place. This cemetery, while not part of the cities park system, is one of the more lovely places to visit. The grounds and Landscpae design are lovely. As one of the largest privately owned cemeteries in the world it has lengthy and fascinating history. The staff are very welcoming to visitors as I have for year brought my landscape painting class here on Saturday mornings. Once during a rain they even found cover for us to work under. Despite being a cemetery it is a great place for the living.

Trying to get my steps in at different parks and spaces each day - so I came here on a warm, but rainy Sunday morning. You can cover all miles you like here in this beautiful, peaceful setting. I saw deer and wild turkeys. Many trees and flowers bloom. Grave sites marked with many great family names from the area. And of course the fine architecture and gardens they are famous for. Highly recommended!

It's somewhat strange to check-in to a cemetery, but we're glad we did. Fantastic arboretum. We loved the walking loops. There appear to be three of them (color-coded). We took the yellow. Very serene. Recommended next time you need to get away.

I visited this area as a photographer and I'm blown away by how gorgeous it is. Take a long walking tour, or just a quick drive through! It may sound off that people want to take their photos in a cemetery but when you visit you will see why. Treat the area with the respect it deserves and enjoy the beauty! In the spring the flowers make it feel like a movie set.

This is one of my favorite places to go. We love it for the photography, to take a walk, or sit on the bench listening to the water and feeling a Spring time breeze. It's soooo Beautiful! It's more like a park than a cemetary. The Mausoleums are Amazing! One thing you may not know about Spring Grove is, it's the second largest cemetery in the United States. So if you are wanting to take a scenic walk on paved roads - this is the place. While you do, you will see rock bridges, lakes, and trees that grow the roots up out of the ground (check out the pic). Norman Chapel is so Awesome for weddings. The architecture is breathtaking for sure! I love this place.

Fantastic place. Love to go there for a walk with my wife, especially now, during the leaf color change. They offer walking tours and small bus tours. Looking forward to Holiday Illuminaria in December, sounds amazing.

Spring Grove is an amazing cemetary. Most of my ancestors are buried here, including my grandfather, as we recently found out. My mom and I thought his remains were somewhere else, but my aunt sheepishly admitted that they had them put here with his other deceased relatives as sort of an afterthought. I'm not really a big cemetary person, I mean who is, really, but I think it's kind of cool that we can go look at all their gravestones in one place. The grounds are beautiful, lush and green, and all of the flowers and statuary are really something special. I'm not surprised to hear there are weddings here, it's that pretty. Last time my older cousin and I came we chased my little cousins around in the sunshine ( they thought it was a park, which is really how it feels), they chased the ducks around, and we also explored our family's area... we found two new gravestones under some shrubbery that no one knew was there, how cool is that?

We took a (one-hour) walking tour of the cemetery this morning ($5/person & $4 for seniors) and the docent told us many interesting things. It was a lovely early fall day and Spring Grove is a great place to wander. We also had the pleasure of (pre)-arranging to meet Phil Noxhall, the author of a gorgeous "coffee table" book about the cemetery.

I love graveyards!! I love walking around graveyards. This place is as good as it gets for strolling around a graveyard, appreciating history, and learning about the local area. Lots of plaques with information about those buried here, lovely sculptures, and some good hills to work up a sweat. A must visit for anyone who appreciates the beauty of a graveyard.

Absolutely gorgeous. While the thought of visiting a cemetery as a tourist seems a bit peculiar, this is one that shouldn't be missed. The grounds are well maintained, and Spring Grove houses a huge variety of trees. They also have several lakes where we found geese, turtles, fish, and a large swan. The tombstones themselves can be very intricate and some look like small castles. It seems like a lot of people actually use the location as a normal park. We dressed up to go here, but there were a lot of people who came just to jog, or bike. I would definitely come back in some jogging gear just to explore a little more. On the way out, there was also a train of golf carts with people who looked like they were headed on a formal tour. I would try that next time. It would be cool to get some history lessons about the grounds. My only tip is to be careful where you step. There are a lot of geese droppings!

I am not sure what else can be said about this place. It's amazing, one of a kind, beautiful, and free. You gotta set aside several hours and just roam the place. You'll see everything from the grave of the man that started the Art Museum, to wonderful Gothic mausoleums, lakes, and all kinds of wildlife. You might just forget that its a cemetery! If you are directionally challenged, like me, try to follow the green traffic line in the road and it will lead you back to the front entrance. There are occasional events, one includes a night walk, so keep your eyes peeled on their website schedule of events or give them a call. As a side note, there is a hazardous waste drop off center right down the road. Drop off your dead (people?! no silly) batteries, chemicals, and other nasty stuff here.

I was not expecting to love Spring Grove Cemetery as much as I did. We came here on a whim on a beautiful afternoon and I spent the whole ride home talking about how much I wanted to come back. Tall, mature trees and winding paths make this cemetery feel more like a park than a graveyard. The grounds are well taken care of and speckled with little Gothic architectural gems around every hill. As a warning, it would be all too easy to get lost here. You could spend hours following new paths that look interesting and lose your car before you know it. I would know. It would have happened to me if my boyfriend did not have such a sound sense of direction. Don't let that hinder your exploration-- there is much to see, graves to read and ponds to admire. Take your time.

Telling folks you're going to hang out at a cemetery can fetch some odd looks-but only from those that haven't been here. It's a beautiful sanctuary in the midst of urban Cincinnati. I go to run and find it nice that they have clear color marked paths-see their map online or in the cemetery for mileage. There are also 2 5K maps online. I've posted them on runtastic. It's a good place for distance, but I seem to max out at 7 miles for route length. There are some steep hills as you get through the middle/back of the place. The red-flagged route has steep inclines. It's a quiet place to picnic and even throw a frisbee. There's also a wooded area to wonder through. Tips: Not pet friendly. Don't park on the grass. Bring your own water. I've never looked for a restroom. Drive slowly. The only downside is the hours. The gates close at 6pm daily in the summer with two later nights (8pm) on Monday and Thursday from May-Sept. (open til 6 seven days a week the rest of the year). They do have and automatic gate, so you can't get locked in-just follow the signs to get out. I've been here over an hour past close and have been found and stopped by the staff to make sure I know how to exit.

An unexpectedly romantic place. As you walk or drive through, lakes and gothic structures appear around every bend in the road. Every little one-way road leads to a new discovery, and absolutely everything is picture worthy. Bring your camera. And try not to disturb the residents.

One of the most beautiful places in all of Cincinnati. Full of famous Cincinnatians, normal Cincinnatians, and the future resting place for generations of Cincinnatians yet to come. It's mind-boggling how big Spring Grove is - if you pick up a map, you'll notice that there are actually bits of the cemetery **not yet on the map**. If you're into history, definitely stop by the visitor's office to pick up a couple of guides. They also had a walking trails map with recommended loops of a couple miles. A great place to visit in the fall when the leaves are changing.

Absolutely stunning landscaping here. The history exudes from this place and must be taken in. Meticulously kept and perfectly manicured in every corner. Free to drive through.

I'm not quite sure how to review a cemetery, but when my time comes, I doubt it gets much better. Anyway, recently I've been biking up Spring Grove Ave from OTR and have been doing a few laps around the grounds on my bicycle. It's a nice place to escape the noise and harshness of the city. Once you're further into the grounds its easy to get lost and just wander. A great place to bike, walk or just sit and reflect