Schoepfle Garden

Schoepfle Garden is a 77-acre botanical garden and woodland property along the Vermilion River, featuring collections of rhododendrons, roses, and shade plants. The property combines formal cultivated areas with natural forest sections and offers multiple pathways for visitors to explore.

Otto Schoepfle acquired his grandparents' land in 1936 and developed the gardens over several decades before donating them to Lorain County Metro Parks in 1969. This transfer to the county park system enabled long-term preservation and public expansion of the property.

The Children's Garden includes musical installations like the Rocky G Clef and Flute-A-Pillar, reflecting the founder's interests in creative play. These playful elements invite visitors to experience music and nature in unexpected ways throughout the property.

Visitors should stay on marked pathways and refrain from picking flowers while exploring the formal gardens and woodland trails. Group activities require advance permits, so planning ahead makes sense for larger visiting parties.

Nearly 50 acres of natural woodland connect the cultivated gardens to the Vermilion River, offering spaces for wildflower observation and wildlife encounters. This substantial natural zone shows how human-designed and wild areas exist side by side on the property.