Maymont: A Treasure in Richmond, Virginia

Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, I was lucky to be surrounded by some of the most famous historical rivers, breathtaking greenery, and lots and lots of trees. Perhaps, one of the most important things I’m grateful for was growing up next to Maymont Park and getting to picnic at one of the most beautifully diverse gardens in the world.

Maymont began in 1893 when James and Sallie Dooley finished their estate, complete with a beautiful mansion and 100 acres of gardens and fields, all overlooking the historical James River. Maymont is a beautiful and colorful landscape that the Dooleys knew was special, so much so that they decided to leave their estates and all their land to the city of Richmond after their deaths, making it a public park for all to enjoy. With the help of the Maymont Foundation taking over in 1975, Maymont became the paradise we all know and love today.

When visiting Maymont, there are several ways to enter and enjoy the property. One of the entrances is over by the barns where families can go and feed some of the barn animals. Another entrance is by new expanded wildlife center where people can come and learn about the animals of the area as well as the property’s history.

When I visit Maymont, I prefer to enter in through the smaller back entrance which contains the road that leads you to the Dooley Mansion, a gorgeous stone estate that conducts tours for guests to see what life was like during the Dooley’s time on the manor.

Near the Manor, you can wander out into the dome covered walkway of the Italian gardens, a beautiful mix of colorful flowers and stone walls mixed with marble domes. It always makes me think a bit about the Hanging Gardens and all their beauty.

From there, you can walk down a winding stone pathway into a bamboo forest at Maymont that contains many passageways for you to enter and explore. When taking the right path, you will find yourself placed directly before the enchanting waterfall trickling down a stone front at the Japanese Gardens. The Japanese Gardens consist of the waterfall with a lake that stretches under a circular bridge and out throughout a green ‘scape. There’s a small structure to sit at by the water and steppingstones for you to cross the water on.

If you continue your journey through the path of the park, you’ll find a habitat featuring bears, one featuring a bobcat, and many more animals until you reach the barns of Maymont. No matter the environment you love most, there is a picnic spot for all.

When I was a kid, my mom would picnic with me by the barn. As a college student, I always ate lunch by the rocks of the waterfall. It’s the perfect place for a long, mindful walk throughout the beauty of nature. It’s a place I recommend for you to go with friends or to meditate at by yourself.

Maymont Park is a part of who I am and who I became. It’s a place I’m so lucky to have known my whole life, and I hope if you find yourself out in Richmond, Va, you’ll make your way there for a visit, too.