The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is excited to announce that we will reopen to the public on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Normal operating hours each week will be Tuesdays – Fridays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free.

“We have missed everyone so much and are excited to welcome back the young and young at heart to explore beauty of the gardens, enjoy wildlife and the outdoors, and experience the wonderful seasonal changes in Southeast Texas late in the year. It has been a challenging year with COVID-19 as well as hurricanes Laura and Delta. Despite these difficulties we are looking forward to seeing our friends and neighbors again,” said Rick Lewandowski, Director of Shangri La Gardens.

Please note that Shangri La Gardens has implemented a range of practices to ensure the safety and well-being of our visitors and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak including optional timed ticketing to maintain adequate social distancing. To reserve timed tickets, visit shangrilagardens.org. Walk-up entry is still welcome, but contingent upon availability.

Other safety precautions we’ve implemented include:

• new signage and a one way route through the gardens

• mandatory mask use during entry to Shangri La Gardens and all indoor spaces (mask use is optional throughout the gardens)

• limited maximum occupancy in select indoor locations

• additional hand sanitizing stations

• increased cleaning schedule in public areas

• some areas remain closed (including our Café) for the safety of the public

If you aren’t ready to visit yet, there is a wide array of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center content available through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and our website: shangrilagardens.org.

About Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center:

Shangri La is a 250+ acre space in Orange, Texas, along the waterways of Adams Bayou that combines botanical gardens and an education nature center in a unique way. Imagine a place where you can escape the routine and stroll along garden paths surrounded by fragrant flowers. Bird watch for hours and spend time with friends and family.

Shangri La is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private operating foundation that aims to encourage and assist education and to improve and enrich the quality of life in Southeast Texas by providing significant resources for the study and enjoyment of art, history, nature and culture.

Located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas, Shangri La Gardens is open to the public Tuesday through Friday FREE of charge from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information call 409-670-9113 or visit shangrilagardens.org.