Schoepfle Garden

11106 Market Street, Wakeman, OH 44889

(440) 965-7237

Schoepfle Garden is truly beautiful—77 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered on one side by the Vermilion River. The garden features collections of rhododendrons, roses, cannas, hosta, shade plants, and a variety of shrubs, topiaries and trees. Enjoy the natural beauty of the garden by participating in a guided tour or wandering at you own pace.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Formal Garden

The formal garden is highlighted by a wide central path lined in part with hedges and topiaries. Side paths wind through colorful arrays of exotic flowers, dogwood and European beech trees. The garden’s colors change every few weeks in the warmer months as new species come into bloom. This is truly a place to be seen over and over again.

The Shade Garden

Draped in a cool canopy of pines and other shade trees, the shade garden runs alongside the formal garden adding contrast to the bright and open areas. An assortment of shrubs and shade plants including ferns, hosta and astilbes line the floor. There are places to sit and relax, and plenty of room to roam.

The Natural Woodland

The nearly fifty acres of natural woodlands that lie between the gardens and the Vermilion River add a contrast to the formal and shade gardens. This natural area offers a seasonal display of indigenous trees and wildflowers—a great place for wildflower hikes, birding and tracking. There’s plenty of wildlife here as in other parks in the Lorain County Metro Park system, including deer, wild turkey and fox.

The Schoepfle Children's Garden

This musically themed Children’s Garden was added to the park in 2007. Inspired by Mr. Otto Schoepfle’s love of gardening, music and youth, the Children’s Garden was a true community project as local landscapers constructed each unique garden, local artists restored carousel horses, and local businesses and citizens donated to this amazing project. Each unique piece of the garden blends nature and music to create an enchanting garden for children to learn and play in. Children, young and old, can climb the Rocky "G" Clef, crawl through the Flute-A-Pillar, and ride the restored carousel.

Carousel Hours: Wednesdays & Saturdays (1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) in May - September. The Carousel also runs on Fridays (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) in June - August.

HISTORY

Where Did It All Come From?

How did this beautiful garden come to be? The answer is Otto B. Schoepfle Jr. Born in 1910, Otto Schoepfle began his career as a banker in the 1930s. After the Second World War, during which he served in the US Navy Coastal Office, he took a job at the Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria and rose to the paper’s publisher and the company’s Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in 1986.

In 1936 Otto Schoepfle purchased the Market St. house and its eight acres of land once owned by his grandparents. They had both died by 1924 and the property had been sold to be used as rental property which became quite rundown. With a great deal of attention, work and help from some local laborers, Otto was able to begin turning the property into the beautiful garden that can be seen today.

The Garden That Grew

Otto Schoepfle did not start out to create a botanical garden. He in fact referred to it sometimes as “the garden that grew.” He traveled Europe and North America learning about different botanical varieties and methods, coming home after each trip with new ideas. This continual pursuit of learning became a dominant force in his philosophy of life.

In 1969 Otto arranged to leave the garden to Lorain County Metro Parks but continued to live in the house and manage and maintain the gardens until his death in 1992. The garden now stands as a monument to his values of continual learning and appreciation of both cultivated and natural beauty.

Garden Rules

In an effort to keep this garden special for all who visit, we ask that you please observe the following guidelines when visiting:

1. We know the garden is lovely and you’d love to have a cutting of this or that, but please don’t pick the flowers, take cuttings, or collect seeds, cones, nuts, or fruits from the plants.  Everyone should have the opportunity to see and experience the same things you did.

2. Please remain on the grass or paved trails around the garden. We ask you, please do not walk into the flower beds.

3. We ask you please accompany your children throughout the garden.

4. Dogs and other pets are not permitted in the garden.

5. Please limit your picnicking to the areas adjacent to the parking lot.

6. Permits are required for organized group activities to be held in the park.

7. Please do not use areas in the garden for playground activities. 

8. Fishing, wading, and ice skating are not permitted in the garden ponds.

9. Bicycles, rollerblades, or skateboards are not permitted on the paved areas or in the garden.

In addition to these guidelines, visitors are required to act within the Lorain County Metro Parks rules.