Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and California's only horticultural theme park, located at 3050 Hecker Pass Highway in Gilroy — about 30 miles south of San Jose and within an hour of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Monterey. Founded by Michael Bonfante and first opened to the public in June 2001, the park brings together more than 40 rides and attractions, majestic gardens, and more than 10,000 trees with an emphasis on local history and horticulture. The park's mission is to educate and inspire families, especially children, to appreciate trees and plants in a fun, beautifully landscaped setting. Its six distinctive gardens include the world-famous Circus Trees — rare arbor sculptures shaped by the late Axel Erlandson — alongside the lush Camellia Garden and the tropical Monarch Garden housed inside a 60-foot-tall glass greenhouse. For groups and private events, Gilroy Gardens offers multiple event spaces throughout the grounds — from the Creekside Terrace along a tranquil creek to the Events Plaza at the heart of the park and the South County Grove's open-lawn space — supported by an experienced in-house event planning and catering team. The park accommodates everything from company gatherings and school proms to quinceañeras, family reunions, and full park buyouts.