Whetstone Park / Park of Roses

Whetstone Park / Park of Roses

Whetstone Park / Park of Roses
4.5
About
One of the largest municipal rose gardens in the U.S., this 13-acre park features more than 11,000 gorgeous rose bushes and specialized gardens for herbs, daffodils and perennials.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles289 reviews
Excellent
185
Very good
84
Average
13
Poor
7
Terrible
0

Cherry_Wonderdog
New England3,155 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Very tastefully architected and conceived rose garden near downtown Columbus. There were red, pink, yellow, and orange roses, among others, plenty of brick paths to wonder and benches for rest. There’s a delightful double-story gazebo, a butterfly breeding area, and a beautiful water fountain that adds a lovely backdrop to this peaceful location. No entrance fee. Thank you, City of Columbus.
Written September 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nate M.
Hilliard, OH4 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Family
It's a good place to go for a walk if you live in the neighborhood. But not worth a drive to get here. The roses are mostly just green shrubs. It's not colorful like a flower garden. And that's all there is to do: walk on pavement around small shrubs. The bike trails might be fun but I doubt the scenery is any better.
Written June 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cynthia F
Fair Lawn, NJ2,361 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Solo
Visited in October. Still peaceful and enjoyable despite little color or blooms.

Frequent weddings in the garden.

Lots of free parking and free admission.

Public library is nearby, but don't park in that parking lot. There's a much closer parking lot. Rose garden is large and hiding behind a building. Walk uphill or ascend some stairs.
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amber Salutric
Lockport, IL87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Friends
We loved this place! The roses were beautiful & the garden was just so peaceful. Seems like a great place to have a wedding or an outdoor event of some sort. No admission fee and you can walk around at your own place! Highly recommend to anyone traveling in this area!
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dede K
Pittsburgh, PA234 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
This was such a beautiful garden that we found on our most recent trip to Columbus. I didn’t realize there were that many different types of roses, but here we are! Benches and logs stationed around the garden to sit and just enjoy, a fountain to listen to and a side garden of other flowers 🌸 Lovely beauty quotes along the paths. A hidden gem!
Written June 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thomasmcsweeney2014
Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand406 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Family
Whetstone Park has an interesting history. Located behind the Whetstone Public Library at 3909 North High Street, you must first pass the Whetstone Playground - swings and things for young children (directly behind the library), pass the 6 fenced-in tennis courts (directly behind the playground), then a large field often used for kite flying and touch football games, and then go around the corner and you are there. The land (136 acres) for the park which originally was a family farm in the early 1800's, was purchase by the famous Columbus mayor James A. Rhodes in 1944 (who later went on to become Governor of Ohio) to be used for Victory Gardens during World War II. Over 500 Victory Gardens were planted throughout the duration of the war, and on Memorial Day 1950, the land was christened Whetstone Park. The park has many activities, there are environmental tours and education classes, there is a stocked pond to teach youngsters how to fish, several playgrounds, nature trails, a large community center that provides classes for all ages, meeting rooms and free space, several youth and adult sports leagues use the park, and there are covered picnic areas with raised pits for charcoal fires and BBQs. But one of the best things about the park is that the 13 acre Park of Roses is located within Whetstone Park. The Park of Roses was started in 1953 by members of the Columbus Rose Club & The Central Ohio Rose Society and has grown in the number and diversity of the roses. With over 11,000 rose bushes and specialized gardens of herbs, daffodils, perennials and specialized collections of miniature and 18th Century heritage roses there has also been the construction of numerous wort iron works to support these roses or act as photography backgrounds. Up until 2006, every June hosted the Rose Festival of Ohio which brought arts and rose crafts to the park. Still a favorite location for an outdoor weddings with the option of the ceremony or reception held inside the Community Center, there are just so many photo perfect backgrounds that several wedding could occur simultaneously. As for amenities, there are a number of water fountains throughout the park and several toilets (some Port-a-Johns during sports games) and wheelchair access. You can bring your own food and drink - but there are plenty of places on High Street for food - and the best part is free entrance and free parking. Whether it is a wedding, a marriage proposal, of just a great place to have fun and take pictures, I suggest the Whetstone Park / Park of Roses - it is even great in the winter as they put out bird and animal feeders.
Written May 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Departure22343
Barnstable, Massachusetts1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I'm originally from Columbus, and loved right across High Street from the Park of Roses. Although I've lived on Cape Cod for the past 6 years, I still view the Park of Roses as the most beautiful place anyone could have the pleasure of visiting. Theres just something mystical, almost unreal this place. Its like Columbus's own little heaven. Everyone - people young and old - should go. Itll be well worth it! ((and be sure to check out the metal viweing tower - youll love it!))
Written February 10, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cory
Dublin, OH88 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Solo
This is a great place to spend an hour looking at the acres of roses. It is always calm and peaceful. I usually go here several times each summer.
Written July 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

annynon
Columbus, OH3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011 • Solo
ThIs 'garden' is 8 ft high in either dead stalks or over-your-head weeds? Looks like weeds
We used to use this area for our dogs' exercise meadow. Then a small bunch decided to tear it up and throw seeds down allowing whatever shows up to stay.Then they abanded it.

I told the woman who was dead-set on this it would be an accident ready to happen. It has been.

Don't go there without a companion, a dog that will protect you or if you are taller than 8 ft. You cannot be seen in there by people outside of it.

Within no time once it was grown two women were assaulted by bikers, knocked down and beaten up and left in broad daylight. I knew one who went in with two dogs neither would protect her.
The Asst. Par & Rec Director said there has been no crime there. I disagreed and told him what I knew. His excuse was he hadn't heard of any. The police department knew of them.I knew one of the women.
I went through it once out of curiosity with a dog that would not hesitate to protect me.A very elderly couple was strolling along ahead of me not worried about the danger I told them of. I decided to stay close by them until they emerged on the other side.
Most bad guys won't tangle with the breed that I own.

Be careful and very aware of anything around you. Oh, the path curves to the point of not being able to be seen or to see what's ahead.
Written July 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Doug F
Rochester, NY149 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Solo
At first, I couldn't find the roses. A Park of Roses with no roses? So after walking around, I went into the local public library located inside the park, and asked where the roses were. They brought out a map of the park, and showed me directions to nearly a mile away, which I drove to. And sure enough, there were a lot of roses. It was a pleasant experience, but I guess I am not into roses as much as I thought I might have been.
Written June 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Whetstone Park / Park of Roses - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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