Forestiere Underground Gardens

Come discover this unique underground garden in central California.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow plants almost 20 feet underground? You can find it here at Forestiere Underground Gardens. Located in Fresno, California, this garden began as "useless" farmland for an immigrant farmer. Baldassare Forestiere was an immigrant from Sicily who came to California in the early 1900s. Since central California is known for its warmer climate, he wanted to find a way to stay cool, especially during the hot summer months where the highs reach upwards of 100 degrees regularly. 

Forestiere spent 40 years making these tunnels by hand with shovels and picks, digging over 20 feet deep around 10 acres worth of land. You will find passageways, rooms, courtyards, and gardens, including grapevines and fruit trees that still grow here today. The passageways, rooms, and courtyards are made up of arches and stone walls that take after ancient Roman architecture.

The cost to see these underground gardens are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors over 60, college students, and military with id. Children ages 5-17 have an admission price of $11. You can take an hour-long guided tour of these gardens when you come to visit. The gardens are only open from March to November, but it is worth visiting if you’re in the area.