Kingwood Center Gardens

What Kingwood Center Gardens does

Kingwood Center Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a 47-acre public garden and historic estate in Mansfield, Ohio, established in October 1953 under the Charles Kelley King #3 Trust. The core offering is general garden and grounds access (adult admission $10, child $5, members and children under 6 free), supported by tours of Kingwood Hall — a 20,000 sq ft French Provincial mansion built 1926-1929 — a Display Greenhouse, woodland trails, a duck pond, and free-roaming peacocks. Programming is anchored by a tiered annual membership program (Individual $45 through Benefactor $1,000) with reciprocal admission benefits through the American Horticultural Society and NARM networks, plus seven day-to-day operating verticals: on-site dining (Gateway Café), retail (Garden & Gift Shop with plants, gardening tools, and gifts), educational workshops and classes spanning art, culinary, wellness, horticulture, and history, youth programs (Kingwood Kids Summer Camp at $10/week and Storytime Series), school group visits, group tours, and wedding/private event rentals at multiple indoor and outdoor venues.

The organization generates revenue through six identifiable streams: one-time admission fees, recurring membership subscriptions, retail and food service sales, transaction-based venue rentals, donations and grants (Kroger Community Rewards, foundation grants from Richland County Foundation and The Shelby Foundation), and educational program fees. Distribution is direct-to-consumer at the single Mansfield site, with digital marketing across website, email, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TripAdvisor, plus partnership channels (Adventure Pass with the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, Museums for All for $1 SNAP EBT admission, and B&O Trail access). Core operational technology is minimal: no public API, no proprietary software platform, and a TripleSeat-based rental inquiry system; the venue relies on horticultural and landscape expertise (including specialized partners Studer-Obringer Inc. and sculptor Mike Major for the multi-year Formal Gardens Restoration Project) rather than technology IP as the basis of competitive position.

Strategically, Kingwood is in active investment mode: the multi-year Formal Gardens Restoration planted 300+ trees and shrubs as of May 2025, the Garden Gateway visitor center opened in 2020, and the Glass in Flight 2 outdoor sculpture exhibition (40+ works by Alex Heveri, May 23 – September 7, 2026) launched in May 2026 with presenting sponsorship from Modern Woodmen of America. Sponsorship revenue, foundation grants, and a diversified customer mix across individual visitors, families, school groups, wedding parties, corporate events, wellness participants (OhioHealth partnership), and cyclists (B&O Trail) collectively fund operations; the organization does not disclose financials and has no equity funding, parent company, or subsidiary structure.

Name

Kingwood Center Gardens

Legal name

Kingwood Center Gardens

Website

https://kingwoodcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kingwood Center Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 47-acre historic public garden estate in Mansfield, Ohio, offering admissions, memberships, retail, dining, event rentals, and educational programs to individual visitors, families, schools, and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Gardens and Historic Botanical Estates

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Public garden estate
• Historic mansion tours
• Botanical garden admissions
• Garden venue rentals
• Horticultural education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mansfield

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: Revenue from general admission tickets. Adults $10, children 7-18 $5, children 6 and under free, military $1 off discount.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership programs ranging from Individual ($45), Dual ($55), Family ($80), Steward ($110), Contributor ($265), Patron ($515), to Benefactor ($1,000) tiers. Includes guest passes, discounts, and reciprocal admission benefits.
3. Retail and Food Service: Garden & Gift Shop selling plants, gardening tools, garden art, home décor, jewelry, and souvenirs. Gateway Café serving fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads, coffee, and specialty drinks.
4. Venue Rentals: Rental revenue from weddings, private events, corporate meetings, and receptions at various estate venues including Kingwood Hall, Courtyard Complex, Carriage House, and outdoor garden spaces.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals and organizations, including Kroger Community Rewards, legacy gifts, and foundation grants from entities such as Richland County Foundation and The Shelby Foundation.
6. Educational Programs: Revenue from workshops, classes, summer camps (Kingwood Kids Summer Camp at $10/week), and school group programs ($2-$6 per student).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kingwood Center Gardens operates a 47-acre public garden and historic estate in Mansfield, Ohio, offering gate admission, annual memberships, retail (Garden & Gift Shop), dining (Gateway Café), educational workshops and youth programs, group and school tours, and wedding and private event venue rentals across the gardens and the 1926 French Provincial Kingwood Hall mansion.

Product overview

Kingwood Center Gardens operates as a single-site public garden and historical estate offering a unified visitor experience built around horticultural displays, historical preservation, and educational programming. The core offering is general garden and grounds admission (47 acres including display greenhouse, woodland trails, and wildlife). Supporting offerings include: Kingwood Hall mansion tours, Gateway Café dining, Garden & Gift Shop retail, educational workshops/classes, Kingwood Kids Summer Camp, Storytime Series, group/school tours, wedding and event rentals, and a tiered membership program. All offerings are managed internally under the Kingwood Center Gardens brand and are available to visitors purchasing admission or memberships; there are no separately branded product lines or modular platform components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Garden & Grounds Access General admission to 47 acres of gardens including distinctive floral displays, woodland trails, duck pond, free-roaming peacocks, and the display greenhouse. Available to walk-up visitors and included with membership.
• Kingwood Hall Mansion Tours Docent-led or self-guided tours of the 20,000-square-foot French Provincial-style mansion built 1926-1929, the former home of industrialist Charles Kelley King. Open for tours February through October and included with general admission.
• Gateway Café On-site café offering fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads, coffee, and specialty drinks. Open daily 10:30 AM-3:30 PM with 10% member discount.
• Garden & Gift Shop On-site retail shop selling perennials, tropicals, cacti, herbs, annuals, gardening tools, garden art, home décor, jewelry, and souvenirs. Members receive a 10-15% discount.
• Workshops & Classes Educational programs for all ages covering art, children & family, culinary, health & wellness, horticulture, and history & tours. Registration available online, by phone, or in person.
• Kingwood Kids Summer Camp Nature-based educational camp for children entering 1st-4th grades, offered Tuesday-Friday each week of June from 10 AM-1 PM at $10 per week per child with different environmental themes.
• Storytime Series Weekly read-aloud program featuring nature-based picture books with themed activities for children ages 6 and under, held Wednesdays April through September.
• Wedding & Event Venue Rentals Rental of garden estate venues for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and private events including Kingwood Hall, the Courtyard Complex, the Carriage House, and outdoor spaces, with catering options and audio/visual systems. Inquiries managed via TripleSeat with 5-20% member discounts.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership tiers ranging from Individual ($45), Dual ($55), Family ($80), Steward ($110), Contributor ($265), Patron ($515), to Benefactor ($1,000), offering unlimited admission, digital guest passes, retail and café discounts, reciprocal admission benefits through NARM and AHS RAP, and exclusive event access.
• Group Tours Self-guided ($8/person) and guided tours ($16/person) of Kingwood Hall and grounds for groups of 15 or more, plus golf cart tours ($125 flat fee). Weekday availability only with reservations required.
• School Group Visits Self-exploration ($2/student) and staff-led programs ($6/student) for PreK-12th grade classes, homeschool groups, and childcare facilities, with one complimentary teacher/chaperone per 15 paid students and additional adults $6 each. Reservations required at least 2 weeks in advance with a $30 non-refundable deposit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 sculptures featured in current Glass in Flight 2 exhibit
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alex Heveri (Glass Artist)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Nationally acclaimed Tucson-based sculptor creating Glass in Flight 2 outdoor exhibition featuring 40+ luminous glass sculptures celebrating pollinators. Her work has been featured at Tucson Botanical Gardens, Reiman Gardens, Houston Botanic Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden, and San Antonio Zoo.
• OhioHealth Fitness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness partnership providing regular fitness programming including Tai Chi in the Gardens (weekly Tuesdays at 6PM), Wellness Walks (weekly Wednesdays at 11AM), and Flexibility and Flow yoga/stretching classes (weekly Tuesdays at 5:30PM). Programs are free for members and $10 for non-members.
• Mansfield/Richland County Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure Pass program offering free or discounted admission to Kingwood for library cardholders, expanding access to community members who may not otherwise visit.
• American Horticultural SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReciprocal Admission Program (RAP) partnership allowing Kingwood members free admission at hundreds of participating gardens nationwide, and reciprocal free admission for members of RAP gardens visiting Kingwood.
• NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum) AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReciprocal admission partnership for Steward-level and above members, providing access to hundreds of cultural institutions across North America including arts, science, history, and botanical gardens.
• Museums for AllcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational initiative allowing SNAP EBT cardholders free or reduced admission ($1 per person for up to 5 household members) at Kingwood and 500+ participating museums, supporting accessibility and community engagement.
• Pop Up Science LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational programming partner providing Pop Up Science: Pollination All Around! sessions for grades K-2 and 3-6, complementing the Glass in Flight 2 exhibit.
• Jason Whittle (Summit Metro Parks / Summit Ecological Consulting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiologist leading educational program on Bats of Ohio, discussing ecosystem importance, monitoring methods, and conservation threats.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allowing shoppers to designate Kingwood as their favorite charity, generating contributions with each purchase using their Kroger Plus Card.
• Studer-Obringer Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Formal Gardens Restoration Project, handling reconstruction of trellis, stonework, and major structural elements using historic photos as guidance.
• Mike Major (Sculptor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned sculptor from Urbana recreating historic Formal Garden sculptures including Lady of Gaillardias, Satyr, The Herm of Pan, and other elements including birdbaths, sundial, and urn lids.
• Pacific ImpressionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIrrigation installation contractor for Formal Gardens Restoration Project.
• Goldberry Roasting CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal coffee roaster providing custom Kingwood Blend coffee for Gateway Café, featuring signature roasted coffee for café customers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Dayton, Ohio public garden operated as a metro park with gardens, trails, and educational programming — comparable in scale and Ohio public-garden mission.
• Cantigny Park: Historic 500-acre Wheaton, Illinois estate with formal gardens, museum, and event venues — comparable as a Midwest historic estate garden offering admissions, weddings, and educational programming.
• Dawes Arboretum: Public arboretum and garden in Newark, Ohio with admission, membership, events, and educational programming — comparable in scale, geography, and nonprofit garden-estate model.
• The Holden Arboretum: Ohio-based public arboretum offering admissions, memberships, weddings, and educational programs across expansive grounds — closely comparable on nonprofit garden-estate operations and Midwest catchment.
• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens: Historic Ohio estate and gardens in Akron operating a 1920s mansion estate with admissions, memberships, weddings, and events — directly comparable as a Midwest historic estate with gardens.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Public botanical garden in Columbus, Ohio operating a horticultural estate with admissions, memberships, exhibitions, and educational programming — directly comparable to Kingwood on mission, regional catchment, and revenue model.
• Inniswood Metro Gardens: Central Ohio public garden estate with walking trails and horticultural collections — comparable as a regional public garden operation with similar admission and programming model.

Broad incumbents

• Longwood Gardens: One of the largest public display gardens in the U.S. located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with exhibitions, dining, memberships, and educational programs — comparable category but operates at significantly larger scale and budget.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Major St. Louis public garden with extensive programming, exhibitions, and educational offerings — comparable category but substantially larger institution with research and conservation arms.
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Pittsburgh-based public conservatory and botanical garden with exhibitions, education, and sustainability programming — comparable category but materially larger scale and broader programming scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUofKiKbz07Xs0NavztR7Wg
• Facebookfacebook.com/KingwoodCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/kingwoodcentergardens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kingwood-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kingwood Center Gardens