Cheekwood

What Cheekwood does

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution operating a 55-acre historic estate in Nashville, Tennessee, that combines a botanical garden, a Level II nationally accredited arboretum, and an American Alliance of Museums-accredited art museum. Originally built in 1929 as the private home of Leslie and Mabel Cheek, the estate opened to the public in 1960 and today serves more than 380,000 visitors annually, ranking as a top-five Nashville attraction. Its core product is timed-entry general admission (Gardens Only at $13–$26 or Gardens + Mansion at $19–$29) supplemented by tiered memberships ($70 Individual to $1,500+ Cheekwood Society), group tours, weddings and private event rentals, three retail shops, the third-party-operated Perenn café, and a slate of seasonal festivals (Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, Holiday LIGHTS, Thursday Night Out).

The institution's programming stack includes permanent gardens and the 1.5-mile Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail, rotating art exhibitions (recently Chihuly at Cheekwood and the upcoming 2026 America the Beautiful), the INTERVENTIONS contemporary arts initiative, the Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence program, and four multicultural festivals (Holi, Black Arts Bash, Otsukimi, El Día de los Muertos). Educational programming spans free school field trips for Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama schools (13,000 students from 177 schools in 2024), children's camps, homeschool days, and adult gardening and wellness classes.

Cheekwood generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: ticket sales, recurring memberships, special-event admissions, facility rentals, on-site retail and café revenue share, corporate sponsorships, and institutional fundraising. Donations are supported by 70 community partners and foundation relationships (Sandra Schatten Foundation, Bracken Foundation, Ann & Monroe Carell Foundation, Northern Trust, Regions Bank), supplemented by grants from Metro Arts Nashville, NEA, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The organization has invested heavily in capital: a completed $37M Cheekwood Campaign funded major gardens and trails, and a $35M Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza is under construction with completion in 2027 to lift attendance capacity. The institution is led by President & CEO Jane O. MacLeod, who has served since 2010.

Name

Cheekwood

Legal name

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Website

https://cheekwood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 55-acre historic botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum in Nashville serving 380,000 annual visitors through ticketed admission, memberships, weddings, retail, seasonal festivals, and community education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Attractions (Botanical Garden and Art Museum)

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Botanical garden
• Art museum
• Arboretum collections
• Wedding venue rentals
• Cultural education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Cheekwood generates revenue through paid admission to its 55-acre gardens and historic mansion. Tickets are sold online in advance with timed entry; pricing varies by experience tier (Gardens Only vs. Gardens + Mansion) and visitor category (adult, senior, student, youth). A per-ticket service fee and parking fee are added to non-member transactions.
2. Memberships: Cheekwood offers annual membership programs at multiple tiers (Individual $70/yr, Individual+1 $110/yr, Individual+2 $150/yr, Dual $150/yr, Dual+1 $190/yr, Dual+2 $190/yr, Family One $150/yr, Family One+1 $190/yr, Family One+2 $230/yr, Family Two $190/yr, Family Two+1 $230/yr, Family Two+2 $230/yr) plus premium Society levels (Magnolia Society $300/yr, Dogwood Society $500/yr, Boxwood Society $1,000/yr, Cheekwood Society $1,500+/yr). Members receive complimentary general admission, parking, member-only event access, and discounts.
3. Special Events & Seasonal Festivals: Cheekwood hosts ticketed special events including Thursday Night Out (summer evening concerts), Under the Stars Concert Series, Holiday LIGHTS (one-mile light display, November–January), Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, Great Spring Art Hop, and the annual Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville. These events generate significant admissions and concessions revenue and are a major driver of attendance.
4. Facility Rentals & Private Events: Cheekwood rents its venues for weddings, corporate events, and photography sessions. Rental revenue includes fees for venue use, portrait photography sessions (Members $350, Non-Members $450+), and event catering/ concessions. The estate offers multiple indoor and outdoor venue spaces.
5. Retail — Gift Shops & Café: On-site retail operations include The Garden Shop (at Botanic Hall), The Museum Shop (in the Historic Mansion), and the Holiday Marketplace. Perenn at Cheekwood is an all-day café and bakery operated by an external vendor (Tyler and Aubrey O'Laskey), with Cheekwood receiving a revenue share or rent. Members receive 10% discount at shops and café.
6. Donations & Institutional Support: As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), Cheekwood relies on charitable contributions including annual fund donations, tribute and memorial gifts, legacy society bequests, corporate sponsorships (Corporate Friends program), and institutional grants from organizations such as Metro Arts, NEA, Tennessee Arts Commission, and private foundations.
7. Corporate Partnerships: Cheekwood's Corporate Friends program offers tiered sponsorship packages funding education programs, seasonal festivals, art exhibitions, and special events. Sponsors receive marketing and hospitality benefits including client entertainment and employee engagement opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cheekwood operates a 55-acre historic estate in Nashville that functions as a combined botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum open to the general public. The institution sells tiered general admission (Gardens Only and Gardens + Mansion), annual memberships, seasonal festival tickets (Holiday LIGHTS, Cheekwood in Bloom, Thursday Night Out), weddings and private event rentals, group tours, and educational programs for children, adults, and K-12 schools. On-site amenities include Perenn café, three gift shops, and 13 distinct botanical gardens plus a 1.5-mile outdoor sculpture trail.

Product overview

Cheekwood is a 55-acre historic estate serving as a combined botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum, operated as a nonprofit. The integrated visitor experience combines General Admission access (Gardens Only or Gardens + Mansion), tiered Membership Programs, and Group Tours. Seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, and Holiday LIGHTS anchor the annual calendar, while Thursday Night Out and the Under the Stars Concert Series provide summer music programming. Educational offerings span Children's Programs (TOTS!, TRAINS!, Summer Camps), School & Community Outreach (free field trips for regional schools), and Adult Education (gardening workshops, wellness classes). On-site amenities include Perenn at Cheekwood café and three Gift Shops. The venue hosts Weddings & Private Events, while the outdoor Sculpture Trail, Artist-in-Residence Program, Masterpiece Art Series, and INTERVENTIONS Program provide diverse art exhibitions. Community engagement extends through the donation program and volunteer opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission (Gardens Only) Paid access to all 55 acres of outdoor space including 13 distinct botanical gardens, Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail, Bracken Foundation Children's Garden, and Frist Learning Center. Pricing varies by visitor category (adult $20–$26, senior $18–$26, student $16–$26, youth $13–$19, ages 2 & under FREE, members FREE).
• Gardens + Mansion Access Full access combining outdoor gardens with entry to the Historic Mansion & Museum, including period rooms, art galleries, Museum Gift Shop, and audio tour. Adults $26–$29, Seniors $24–$29, Students $22–$29, Youth $19–$22, Ages 2 & Under FREE, Members FREE.
• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership programs: Individual $70/yr, Dual $150/yr, Family One $150/yr (up to $230), Family Two $190/yr (up to $230), and premium Society levels (Magnolia Society $300/yr, Dogwood Society $500/yr, Boxwood Society $1,000/yr, Cheekwood Society $1,500+/yr). Benefits include complimentary general admission, parking, member-only events, discounts, and reciprocal admission through SERM and AHS networks.
• Group Tours Self-guided and docent-led tour options for parties of 15+ guests, including Seasonal Garden Walking Tours and House and History Tours. Complete Package option includes guided tours and private lunch space in the Mansion's Recreation Room.
• Thursday Night Out Weekly summer evening event (June-August) featuring live music performances, seasonal beers, specialty cocktails, food trucks, and Perenn café offerings in an outdoor garden setting. Ticketed separately from general admission.
• Holiday LIGHTS Annual winter holiday festival (November–January) featuring a one-mile walking path with over one million lights, s'mores, seasonal beverages, Holiday Marketplace, and mansion holiday décor viewing. Major annual ticketed event.
• Cheekwood in Bloom Spring festival celebrating the season with colorful blooms and flower displays (250,000 blooming bulbs) across all 55 acres of the estate.
• Cheekwood Harvest Autumn festival featuring fall foliage displays and seasonal programming across the gardens.
• Children's Programs Programs including TOTS! (garden and art exploration for young children), TRAINS! (train exhibition with Hugo and the Impossible Thing storybook trail), and Summer Camps for ages 5-14 featuring garden exploration and art activities.
• School & Community Outreach Programs Free admission for school groups from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Programs include School Field Trips, Homeschool Days, Destination Cheekwood, Cheekwood On the Road, Head Start TOTS, Scout Programs, and Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards.
• Adult Education Programs Lifelong learning opportunities including Hands-On Workshops, The Cheekwood Gardening School with instructors from Master Gardeners and plant societies, seasonal gardening classes, and Wellness 360 outdoor wellness classes.
• Perenn at Cheekwood Café All-day café and bakery operated by Tyler and Aubrey O'Laskey, offering artisanal pastries, handcrafted breads, breakfast sandwiches, salads, sandwiches, and espresso. Located in Frist Learning Center courtyard. Members receive 10% discount.
• Gift Shops Three retail locations: Garden Shop (at Botanic Hall entrance) featuring children's items, home décor, garden tools; Museum Shop (in Historic Mansion) with scarves, jewelry, books; and seasonal Holiday Marketplace at Frist Learning Center. Members receive 10% discount. E-commerce available at shop.cheekwood.org.
• Weddings & Private Event Rentals Event venue services including wedding ceremonies and receptions, corporate events, and proposal packages. Features indoor and outdoor venue options with historic mansion backdrop. Voted Best Wedding Venue by Nashville Scene and The Tennessean in 2025.
• Portrait Photography Sessions 2-hour portrait photography sessions on the 55-acre estate. Members $350; Non-Members $450 + after-hours fee $100/hr + weekend fee $100. Booking includes one dual Cheekwood membership for one year for non-members.
• Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring 18+ contemporary sculptures by international artists including Jenny Holzer, Frank Fleming, James Turrell, and George Rickey. Open as part of general admission.
• Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 380,000 visitors in 2024, making Cheekwood a top five Nashville attraction and #3 largest tourist attraction per Nashville Business Journal
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Northern TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026Northern Trust serves as the presenting sponsor of the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville, Cheekwood's flagship annual fundraising event now in its 36th year. The show is held at the Music City Center January 9–11, 2026, and benefits Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and Economic Club of Nashville charities.
• Sandra Schatten FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMakes possible Cheekwood's INTERVENTIONS program, launched in 2021, inviting nationally and internationally recognized artists to create new works inspired by the Cheek family and period rooms.
• Regions BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegions Bank presents Cheekwood's Empower Internships, a youth employment and professional development program at the institution.
• Antiques & Garden Show of NashvilleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville is an annual fundraising event that benefits Cheekwood and Economic Club of Nashville charities. Cheekwood is a co-beneficiary of the show, which is entering its 36th year.
• HASTINGS (Architecture Firm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHASTINGS is the nationally acclaimed Nashville-based architecture firm (ranked #3 in the US by ARCHITECT magazine) designing Cheekwood's $35M Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza project.
• R.C. Mathews ContractorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR.C. Mathews Contractor is the general contractor for the Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza project. Founded in 1941, the firm is one of Middle Tennessee's most trusted builders with extensive experience in nonprofit and parking garage projects.
• Garden Club of NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing horticultural expertise, volunteer support, and programming collaboration for Cheekwood's botanical garden programs.
• Herb Society of NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaintains the Herb Study Garden at Cheekwood, a garden devoted to the study and evaluation of herbal plants in Middle Tennessee.
• Horticultural Society of Middle TennesseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing horticultural programming support and expertise.
• Perenn (Tyler and Aubrey O'Laskey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerenn is an all-day café and bakery operated by husband-and-wife team Tyler and Aubrey O'Laskey. Located in the Frist Learning Center courtyard (the former Cheek family garage), Perenn serves artisanal pastries, handcrafted breads, and quality food to Cheekwood visitors. Founded in Reno, Nevada in 2018, expanded to Tennessee in 2025.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Botanical Garden: One of the largest and most established botanical gardens in the U.S., with deep educational and exhibition programming; serves as a broad incumbent reference for Cheekwood's positioning and operational benchmarks, though at materially greater scale and reach.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Historic, large-scale public garden with a major seasonal light show (Garden Glow), extensive education programs, and broad research/conservation mission — a broader incumbent benchmark for institutional scale, programming depth, and community outreach intensity.

Direct peers

• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: 66-acre botanical garden in Dallas with seasonal festivals (Dallas Blooms, Holiday at the Arboretum), a historic mansion, children's gardens, and event rentals — closely comparable in scale, revenue mix, and programming; notably, Cheekwood's CEO Jane MacLeod previously held leadership roles here.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden: 30+ acre urban botanical garden with rotating art exhibitions (including blockbuster Chihuly shows), seasonal light festivals, and major children's garden programming — directly comparable event programming and scale to Cheekwood's 55-acre Nashville estate.
• Longwood Gardens: One of the world's premier botanical gardens on a large historic estate in Pennsylvania, combining formal gardens, horticulture, performing arts, and seasonal light/festival programming — directly comparable to Cheekwood's mix of gardens, art exhibitions, and signature seasonal events.
• Biltmore Estate: Historic American Country Place Era estate combining gardens, a mansion museum, art collection, and large-scale seasonal events (Christmas at Biltmore) on a property several times the size of Cheekwood — closely comparable as a destination combining historic architecture, gardens, and curated art.
• Morris Arboretum: Public arboretum on a historic Pennsylvania estate combining horticulture, sculpture, education, and event rentals — directly comparable in combining a National-Register-eligible estate with botanical garden and educational programming at a similar scale to Cheekwood.
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: AAM-accredited public garden in Pittsburgh with a strong seasonal events calendar, art exhibitions, and educational programming — comparable in programmatic mix and nonprofit operating model to Cheekwood.
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Major Midwestern botanical garden and sculpture park combining horticulture, a permanent outdoor sculpture collection, rotating art exhibitions, and seasonal events — highly comparable to Cheekwood's garden-plus-sculpture-trail-plus-art exhibition positioning.

Regional players

• Memphis Botanic Garden: Regional botanical garden serving the Memphis/Mid-South market with seasonal events and educational programming — a useful regional comparison for Cheekwood's Tennessee market positioning, though smaller in scale and tourist draw.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Cheekwood
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cheekwoodnashville
• Facebookfacebook.com/CheekwoodNashville
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheekwood
• TikToktiktok.com/@cheekwood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheekwood

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Cheekwood