Chandor Gardens: a special place for your special day
Surround yourself with beauty and magic at Chandor Gardens. This flowering oasis will dazzle your guests. It is the ideal backdrop for your special day.
Accommodations:
The gardens accommodate weddings up to 200 guests. The historic mansion is also available for rehearsal dinners and indoor weddings for groups of 10 to 125.
Bride’s Cottage and Groom’s Loft:
The bride’s cottage is the perfect location for brides to get ready before the ceremony. It is located in the gardens with plenty of space to make every bride feel at ease, including a seating area, a kitchen and rest room. The groom’s loft is also available for the day of your event.
Make an appointment:
To make an appointment to view the facility or to schedule your wedding at Chandor Gardens, please call (817) 613-1700 or e-mail.
Garden history:
Chandor Gardens is a unique world-class paradise featuring an enchanting array of creativity, color and beauty. The gardens were lovingly designed and created by renowned English portrait artist Douglas Chandor over 70 years ago yet remain a spectacular marvel.
To most, this chalky hill in North Central Texas would seem an unlikely place for a garden of such imagination and splendor. But when Douglas Chandor married Weatherford native Ina Kuteman in 1935, she convinced him to build their home and garden in the heart of her hometown. Although his claim to fame was his talent as an artist, Douglas found his real passion as a gardener. He once told Ina that his talent for painting was merely a means that enabled him to fulfill his dreams of building a “living artwork.” Douglas Chandor’s destiny would be to turn these dreams into a reality.
The gardens, originally called “White Shadows,” were carved from 4 acres of rock-hard terrain that was once a cow pasture. The project began in 1936 with the aid of picks, shovels, dynamite and mule-drawn plows. Truckloads of topsoil and tons of boulders were brought in to transform the barren cactus-dotted property into a peaceful haven enclosed by hedges and walls. Chandor devised a series of garden rooms, each with individual character and stunning views, all connected by meandering walkways. His creation combines the styles and ambiance of Chinese and English gardens with such delights as fountains, grottos and even a mountain waterfall.
The Chandors worked tirelessly together in the gardens until Douglas’ death in 1953, at which time Ina renamed them Chandor Gardens as a tribute to her husband. The gardens remained open to the public until shortly before her death in the late 1970s. Because there were no direct heirs, the property remained unattended, overgrown and deteriorating for 20 years.
In 1994, local residents Charles and Melody Bradford purchased the estate and took on the enormous task of restoring the gardens and home. In what could only be described as a true labor of love, they painstakingly spent years clearing and cleaning away the debris of decades of neglect. Many large old trees, Douglas’ original wisteria and boxwood plantings, and his magical hardscapes remained. Everything else was replanted by the Bradfords, and thanks to their efforts Chandor Gardens was once again transformed into a lush tranquil delight.
In time, the Bradfords decided to sell the property, and The City of Weatherford purchased Chandor Gardens in May 2002. After minor renovations necessary for compliance with the American Disabilities Act and City building codes, Chandor was re-opened to the public in the fall of 2002.
The gardens are available for public and private tours. The gardens along with the Chandor mansion are available for rental. It is an ideal and picturesque setting for weddings, photography, meetings, and special events.
For more information or to book your next special event, call (817) 613-1700 or e-mail knantz@weatherfordtx.gov. Visit the Web site at www.chandorgardens.com.