The Botanical Gardens entrance to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is on Botanical Parkway, off of  Sunset Boulevard, in West Columbia.

A substantial number of our visitors come in on the West Columbia side by way of the Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden is connected to the Zoo by an 800-foot-long bridge over the Lower Saluda River. Some zoo members use the West Columbia Entrance, exclusively, according to Google Reviews. They say it is their favorite part of the zoo grounds.

The Botanical Garden is considered one of the most beautiful natural sites in South Carolina, with scenic river views, and the site has significant historical value as the location of the Saluda River Factory, one of South Carolina’s first water-powered textile mills.

The Garden opened on June 10, 1995. On Saturday June 7, Riverbanks Botanical Garden will mark its 30th anniversary with a celebration. Andy Cabe, Riverbanks Botanical Garden Director, said guests can enjoy live music, food trucks, interactive horticultural demonstrations, and a Goosechase scavenger hunt with giveaways. The event will deepen visitors’ connection to nature while honoring the Garden’s three decades of beauty and conservation efforts.

The Botanical Garden consists of 5,700 species of native and exotic plants and offers year-round beauty. The  cultivated niche spaces include the Asian Garden, Old Rose Garden and Walled Garden. Spring and summer are the peak time for brilliant color and bursting blooms, but there’s lots to see in the winter. You can see winter honeysuckle and crocus blooms in January. In February there’s  flowering cherries and winter hazel. Catch the forsythia, daffodils and tulips in March.   

Riverbanks Botanical Garden has been recognized nationally, earning accolades such as being named one of “10 Gardens That Inspire” by Horticulture magazine and one of “20 Great Public Gardens Across America” by HGTV.

According to a Resolution adopted by the South Carolina State Senate in March: “Riverbanks Botanical Garden has served as a beacon of education, conservation, and natural beauty that enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike….recognize and honor the Riverbanks Botanical Garden on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary and commend its outstanding contributions to conservation, education, and community engagement in South Carolina.”

Some of the Botanical Garden Features:

The Native Forest
Visitors enter the Garden from an 800-foot, brick-paved bridge across the Saluda River. Immediately they are immersed in the sights and sounds of a lush hardwood forest reminiscent of a mountainside in northwest South Carolina. Huge oaks, maples, birches and hickories tower above.  

The Walled Garden
While the floodplain and valley slopes remain nearly untouched, the 12-acre upland tract is the horticultural jewel of the Botanical Garden. Three major spaces have been created here: a visitors center, a walled garden and an amphitheater. Plants featured retain a tropical feel that’s particularly spectacular in the summer and fall.

As visitors take their first steps into the Walled Garden, they encounter a vision unlike any other in South Carolina. An area larger than a football field has been transformed into an exquisite garden filling the air with the scents, colors and textures of plants from all over the world. An eight-foot-tall brick wall with intricate detailing surrounds the walled garden. A 300-foot-long canal featuring cascades and pinwheel fountains serves as the focal point of the garden, with brick-paved walkways leading visitors from the center of the garden through mazes of formal plantings on either side.

Riverbanks’ Old Rose Garden includes 120 varieties of roses and an arched passageway on the north side of the Walled Garden leads visitors to a 2,000-seat amphitheater, carpeted with cool, green grass, and nestled in a natural grove of tall hardwoods.

Waterfall Junction
Waterfall Junction at Riverbanks Botanical Garden opened on April 7, 2016 as part of the largest expansion in Zoo history, It’s a 3-acre garden oasis that invites families and children of all ages to get outdoors and explore nature. Pop in and out of rabbit holes, unearth a life-size replica of a T-Rex, frolic between giant tree houses and kid-size playhouses, splash around and under a 25-foot cascading waterfall and run, rest or play games on a grassy meadow. Cool refreshments await at The Oasis concession stand.
The Saluda River Factory
The ruins of the old Saluda River Factory. One of South Carolina’s oldest textile mills, the factory was constructed out of granite blocks sometime around 1830, and ultimately became one of the largest cotton mills in the South. Several other businesses were located next to the factory including a general store, gristmill, tavern and several boarding houses. This area makes up the Saluda Factory Historic District.

Upcoming Events at the Botanical Garden

• Spring Plant Sale: April 19 (8–11am). The first public sale at the Growing Center offers expert advice on plant care.
• Wine Tasting: Friday, April 25. A sold-out evening under the stars in one of America’s most stunning gardens.
• Riverbanks Run: Saturday May 17. A wild 5K benefiting wildlife conservation.

It’s an exciting time for the Botanical Garden that is accessed via the West Columbia Entrance to Riverbanks Zoo. Plan your trip now to visit the Botanical Garden and help celebrate their 30-year anniversary.