Airlie Gardens

Some places you walk through. Airlie Gardens is a place you wander — slowly, with no particular agenda, letting the moss-draped oaks and winding paths set the pace. Tucked along Bradley Creek on the east side of Wilmington, this 67-acre public garden is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire region, and one of those rare attractions that’s just as rewarding on a quiet weekday morning as it is in the full glory of spring bloom. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the gardens before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Garden with a Gilded Age Past

Airlie’s story begins in the 1880s, when wealthy rice trader Pembroke Jones and his wife Sarah purchased the property and began transforming it into a grand private estate. Sarah Jones had a vision — paths lined with live oaks, freshwater lakes, fountains, sculptures, and tens of thousands of azaleas, camellias, and magnolias. She named the estate “Airlie” after the Jones family’s ancestral home in Scotland, and spared no expense bringing it to life, even commissioning a German landscape architect to shape the grounds into formal gardens in the early 1900s.

The estate passed to the Corbett family in 1948, who operated it as a private tourist attraction — especially popular each spring during azalea season. In 1999, New Hanover County purchased Airlie and opened it to the public, preserving more than a century of history for everyone to enjoy. Much of what you see today still reflects Sarah Jones’s original vision.

The Airlie Oak

If the gardens have a single beating heart, it’s the Airlie Oak. This massive southern live oak is estimated to be around 500 years old — meaning it was already a substantial tree before Europeans ever set foot on this coastline. Registered as a member of the Live Oak Society and once designated the largest live oak in North Carolina, it stands roughly 128 feet across its crown with a trunk over 21 feet around. Standing beneath its sprawling, moss-hung branches is the kind of quiet, humbling moment that stays with you long after you leave.

What You’ll See

Airlie is really a collection of gardens, each with its own character, connected by walking trails that wind past 10 acres of freshwater lakes and creekside views. A few highlights worth seeking out:

• The Minnie Evans Bottle Chapel — A stunning structure built from thousands of colored glass bottles, mosaics, and metalwork, honoring the self-taught African-American folk artist who worked at Airlie’s gatehouse for decades and became internationally recognized for her visionary art.
• The Butterfly House — A seasonal walk-through enclosure where butterflies drift freely among the plantings.
• The Pergola Garden — A coquina-stone pergola, much of it original to the early 1900s, surrounded by seasonally changing flowers.
• The Spring Garden — Towering oaks, a tranquil fountain, and a sea of azaleas at peak bloom.
• The historic Mount Lebanon Chapel — A small chapel built around 1835, considered the oldest surviving church structure in New Hanover County.

A Garden for Every Season

While spring is Airlie’s showstopper — when tens of thousands of azaleas and tulips erupt in color, coinciding with Wilmington’s beloved annual Azalea Festival — every season has its own quiet magic. Summer brings lush green canopies, fall softens the light for long, cool walks, and winter reveals the architectural beauty of the bare oaks while the camellias quietly bloom. The holiday season brings Enchanted Airlie, a hugely popular nighttime light display that draws visitors from all over the region.

Good to Know

• Location: 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, just a few minutes from Wrightsville Beach and easily reached from downtown.
• Hours & Admission: The gardens are open year-round with a reasonable admission fee, but hours change seasonally — always check the official website before you go.
• Plan ahead: Give yourself at least two to three hours to take it all in at an unhurried pace; weekday mornings tend to be the quietest and most peaceful.
• Come prepared: Comfortable walking shoes are a must — the paths cover real ground — and sunscreen, a hat, and water go a long way in the warmer months.
• Tickets can be purchased online in advance, and guided walking tours and narrated tram tours are available with reservations made well ahead of time.

Worth Every Step

Whether you’re a serious garden lover, a history buff, an art admirer, or just someone looking for a beautiful place to spend a slow afternoon, Airlie delivers. It’s peaceful, it’s storied, and it’s been quietly captivating visitors for well over a century. Of all the places to spend a few hours in Wilmington, this is one we keep coming back to.

---

---

---

Resources

Airlie Gardens Website

Airlie Gardens Facebook

---

Location

---

Social Media

---

---