Wells Japanese Garden, Japanese garden in Newberry, South Carolina, United States
Wells Japanese Garden is a roughly half-acre Japanese garden in Newberry featuring two connected ponds, concrete bridges, and traditional landscaping elements. The site contains a teahouse structure, multiple wooden bridges, and is carefully planted with trees and shrubs arranged in Japanese style.
W. Fulmer Wells, an architecture graduate, designed the garden in 1930 and created an early example of Japanese garden art in South Carolina. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its historical importance.
The garden blends Eastern design principles with Southern plants, creating an unusual mix of both traditions. Visitors see elements like the torii gate and moon bridge that are typical of Japanese spaces, surrounded by local vegetation.
The garden sits behind Newberry City Hall on Lindsay Street and offers free entry for all visitors. The place is open daily, allowing people to walk through the quiet paths whenever they choose.
The teahouse structure contains original wooden posts from the Newberry Opera House balcony, salvaged during its renovation in 1930. These reused materials connect local building history with the Japanese garden design.
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