The Bloedel Reserve

Name

The Bloedel Reserve

Legal name

Bloedel Reserve

Website

https://bloedelreserve.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Garden & Forest Preserve

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Public garden
• Botanical preserve
• Nature education
• Horticulture programs
• Wedding venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Variable admission pricing using dynamic pricing model. Adults pay $26 (summer) or $22 (standard). Discounted rates for seniors, military, students, and children. Free admission for members, Suquamish Tribal members, and children 4 and under.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers ranging from $85 (Individual) to $975 (Patron). Provides free year-round admission, member-only time slots, reciprocal garden benefits, and shop discounts.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations supporting operations, programs, and mission. Corporate investment, legacy giving, tribute gifts, and Landscape of Giving program for donors of $1,500 or more.
4. Wedding and Ceremony Services: Wedding buyout packages ($75,000), intimate ceremonies ($2,000-$3,000), Willow Ceremony ($6,000), and Residence Terrace celebrations ($25,000).
5. Photography Permits: Photography sessions for portraits, engagements, family, and special occasions. 90-minute sessions priced at $250 (1-4 guests) or $325 (5-10 guests).
6. Guided Group Tours: Customized guided tours for groups of 6-24 attendees led by staff. Tour length approximately 1.5 hours, available Tuesday-Friday.
7. Annual Garden Party Fundraiser: Major annual fundraising event featuring wine, hors d'oeuvres, and auction. The 20th anniversary scheduled for August 6, 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Bloedel Reserve operates a 140-acre public garden and forest preserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington, offering timed-entry general admission, annual memberships, guided group tours, wedding and ceremony venue rentals, permitted photography sessions, and nature-based wellness and creative programs including Strolls for Well-Being, forest bathing, mindfulness meditation, and a year-long artist Creative Residency.

Product overview

The Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre public garden and forest preserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington, offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences centered around general admission access to curated gardens and natural landscapes. The core offering is timed-entry admission to 140 acres of gardens, forests, meadows, and wildlife habitats. Supporting products include membership programs (Individual through Patron tiers), guided tours, wedding and ceremony packages, permitted photography sessions, and Nature & Well-Being programs (Strolls for Well-Being, Forest Bathing, Meditation, Grief Groups). Creative and educational offerings include the Creative Residency Program and Horticulture Internship Program. Additional revenue streams include the annual Garden Party fundraiser, group visits, and The Shop at the Gatehouse retail store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Timed-entry public access to 140 acres of curated gardens, forests, meadows, and wildlife habitats on Bainbridge Island with dynamic pricing ($22 standard, $26 summer for adults; discounts for seniors, military, students, and children; free for children 4 and under, members, and Suquamish Tribal members).
• Membership Programs Annual subscription tiers ($85 Individual to $975 Patron) providing free year-round admission, member-only time slots, 10% shop discount, and reciprocal admission benefits at 380+ American Horticulture Society partner gardens.
• Guided Tours Customized staff-led guided tours for groups of 6-24 attendees covering Japanese Garden, Moss Garden, Reflection Pool, Residence landscape, and Rhododendron Glen; approximately 1.5 hours, available Tuesday-Friday.
• Wedding and Ceremony Packages Venue rental for weddings and ceremonies including Wedding Buyout ($75,000, full-day exclusive access), Residence Terrace and Lawn ($25,000, up to 100 guests), Willow Ceremony ($6,000, up to 40 guests), and Intimate Ceremony ($2,000-$3,000, up to 20 people).
• Photography Sessions Permitted 90-minute outdoor photography sessions at $250 for 1-4 guests and $325 for 5-10 guests, supporting engagement, family, maternity, and senior portrait sessions; optional 30-minute extension $50.
• Strolls for Well-Being Complimentary mindfulness-based self-guided walking program featuring seasonal walks through the Reserve with themes including awareness, joy, and gratitude; participants receive a 6-month complimentary membership.
• Nature and Well-Being Programs Nature-based wellness programs including forest bathing (森林浴), mindfulness meditation (正念冥想), and grief support groups (悲伤支持小组) promoting physical and mental health through the natural environment.
• Horticulture Internship Program Hands-on horticulture internship program providing experience in public garden landscape design, plants, and community service for individuals interested in public garden careers.
• The Shop at the Gatehouse On-site gift shop at the Gatehouse selling artisan jewelry, nature books, garden tools, and creative gifts; members enjoy 10% discount.

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubled visitation from individuals living below the poverty line in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• American Horticulture SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal admission and benefits partnership. Bloedel Reserve members enjoy free admission privileges at 380+ gardens across North America through the AHS Garden Network. Members more than 90 miles from the Reserve receive free admission benefits.
• Bainbridge Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelcome Wednesdays sponsor providing grants enabling pay-what-you-wish community days. Foundation supports community organizations on Bainbridge Island.
• Kitsap BanksupportGTM or Marketing PartnerWelcome Wednesdays sponsor supporting accessibility and community access programs at the Reserve.
• Tulalip TribescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelcome Wednesdays sponsor supporting community access programs. Tulalip Tribes contributes to cultural and community initiatives in the region.
• Bainbridge Island Land TrustsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization focused on land preservation and conservation on Bainbridge Island, working to protect natural areas.
• Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation DistrictsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting parks and trails infrastructure on Bainbridge Island, complementary to the Reserve's conservation mission.
• Bainbridge Island School District Adult Living ProgramsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer partnership providing horticultural assistant opportunities for adults with disabilities, supporting community integration.
• Suquamish FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the indigenous people whose ancestral territory includes the Reserve land. Suquamish Tribal members receive free admission with Tribal ID.
• Suquamish MuseumsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership supporting education about indigenous history and stewardship of the land.
• American Public Gardens AssociationsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership supporting best practices sharing and collaboration among public gardens.
• IslandWoodsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education center partnership. Previously hosted events with Bloedel Reserve focusing on nature-based learning.
• Museums for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignature access program administered by Association of Children's Museums, encouraging regular museum visits for SNAP beneficiaries. Bloedel offers $1 admission for up to 4 people with valid SNAP EBT card.
• Bainbridge Artisan Resource NetworksupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal artisan network supporting vendor opportunities at Bloedel Reserve community events and pop-up weekends.
• Bainbridge Island Chamber of CommercesupportGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business chamber partnership supporting regional tourism and business community connections.
• Heronswood GardensupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional public garden partnership. Heronswood is a renowned perennial and woody plant nursery and educational center in Kingston, WA.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Longwood Gardens: One of the world's premier public gardens with paid admission, event venues, and extensive horticultural collections. Highly comparable to Bloedel as a visitor-facing botanical garden with paid admissions, wedding/event venues, and a horticulture internship program.
• New York Botanical Garden: Large-scale public garden with paid admission, membership tiers, reciprocal network participation, and signature curated landscapes. Comparable to Bloedel in operating a250+ acre public garden with formal gardens, forest, and event venues.
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Urban public garden with curated landscapes including Japanese garden, paid admission, and robust membership and education programs. Bloedel Board Chair Deborah Schenk previously served on BBG's board, indicating direct institutional affinity.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: Large public garden operating paid admission, membership programs, reciprocal network benefits, and extensive horticulture programming. Similar operating model with focus on education, conservation, and visitor experiences.
• Portland Japanese Garden: Pacific Northwest public garden with curated Japanese landscapes, paid admission, and membership tiers. Direct regional peer to Bloedel — both emphasize Japanese garden design; Portland Japanese Garden staff Sean Peterson's experience at this garden directly informs Bloedel horticulture.
• Morton Arboretum: Large-scale public garden/arboretum with paid admission, membership tiers, and conservation focus. Similar in operating a tree-focused landscape with paid access, education programming, and event venue rentals.

Broad incumbents

• United States Botanic Garden: Federally operated public garden with free admission. Comparable as a national public garden institution with curated plant collections, but differs in funding model (federal vs. nonprofit) and access (free vs. paid).
• Biltmore Estate (gardens): Large historic estate with extensive formal gardens, paid admission, premium wedding/event venues, and robust membership programs. Comparable operating model at higher commercial scale with curated landscape experiences and event-driven revenue.

Regional players

• The Arboretum at the University of Washington (Washington Park Arboretum): Seattle-area arboretum managed by UW Botanic Gardens. Regional peer with paid programs and horticultural expertise; Bloedel staff previously worked at UW's Center for Urban Horticulture, indicating close ecosystem overlap.

Emerging players

• Heronswood Garden: Regional public garden and nursery in Kingston, WA, focused on rare and unusual plants. Listed as a Bloedel community partner and employs staff who previously worked at Heronswood — a niche but materially comparable regional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/BloedelReserve
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bloedel-reserve

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Bloedel Reserve