Afton Villa Gardens

The story of Afton Villa is the story of a succession of people who have owned and loved it through over a century and a half, all of whom have contributed something to its beauty and in turn have left something of themselves – their vision, hopes, sorrows, joys, tragedies. It is this intermingling of joy and sadness that gives to Afton Villa a strange, haunting beauty that the visitor usually feels as he enters the gates and first looks down through the cathedral-like archway of live oaks that line the winding avenue for one-half mile. It is this quality that endures even though the villa itself was destroyed by fire in 1963 and only the gardens remain.

Whether you turn off of Highway 61 and drive through the front gate and into the magic of Afton or visit Afton virtually through our internet web site, we welcome you to explore its wonders.

As you come to the end of the drive, directly ahead can be seen the site of the old villa, its ruins now marked by four classical statues of Italian carved stone, purchased by the Trimbles in Vicenza, Italy. The foundation of the villa remains and the broken wall of brick and stucco outline the shape of the house and will give you an idea of the construction as well as the size. In all, it contained forty rooms. In recent years, the area within the walls has been excavated and designed as a Ruins Garden where flowers bloom year ‘round.

We welcome you to the gardens and to enjoy the beauty of the floral tapestry as it transforms itself throughout the day and throughout the seasons.