Our Promise

Help all discover their path to nature.

Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves. Welcome to Daniel Stowe Conservancy, 380 acres of beautiful conserved land open to the public seven days a week. We’re just 20 miles from Uptown Charlotte on the shores of Lake Wylie in Belmont, NC and serve as our community’s backyard and path to nature. We’re also proud to be a nonprofit organization, dedicating the funding we receive from our generous visitors, members and donors to investing back in the property. We’re determined to preserve its natural beauty and provide a space for outdoor community-building, learning and exploration.

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens are the centerpiece and crown jewel of Stowe. Set aside in 1991, and opened in 1999 by retired textile magnate Daniel J. Stowe, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has been an inspiration to the community and the region for nearly three decades. We’re proud of our legacy as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and look forward to our bright future as Daniel Stowe Conservancy, a place that takes you out of the chaos of the world and onto a path that explores nature in all its forms.

This path will take you as far as you dare to go. Across rows of gardens where unique flowers unveil their beauty. Along a network of trails that navigate forests and riverbanks. To a shoreline where there are no trails, only the wake a paddle makes.

Welcome all, to your path to nature.

Daniel Stowe Conservancy FAQ

If you’re a longtime member or visitor, you might have some questions. Let us fill you in on our transformation: 

We did not change our name because the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens are no longer part of our identity. We cherish our beautiful Gardens and they remain the crown jewel of our property. But the Gardens themselves are only 90 acres. Our entire property is over 380 acres! And over the years, we’ve learned that not a lot of people know that. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard people say “I didn’t know you have trails!” or “I didn’t know you have a dog park!”. Changing our name to Daniel Stowe Conservancy reflects that we are more than just our beautiful botanical gardens and offer so many more ways to find your path to nature.

Would you believe us if we told you that our legal name has been Daniel Stowe Conservancy since we opened our doors in 1999? Daniel Stowe Conservancy is still the legal name of our nonprofit organization, so really, we’re going back to our roots (pun intended). A conservancy is an organization that protects and cares for natural areas and plants and wild life living in them. That’s what we’ve been doing for the last 25 years and what we will continue to do in the future. We’re proud to be a nonprofit conservancy organization and wanted our name to reflect that.

There are so many different ways to get involved and support Daniel Stowe Conservancy. We’re always seeking dedicated volunteers to help our staff with various tasks around the property, from weeding in garden beds to assisting with mailings to advocating for Stowe at tabling events. If you enjoy visiting the property, consider becoming a member! Membership fees fund many of our projects across the property and we couldn’t operate without the support of our members. Finally, donors play a crucial role in preserving and enhancing the beauty of Daniel Stowe Conservancy, ensuring that future generations can enjoy its vibrant plant collections, stunning landscapes and educational opportunities. Their support helps maintain the garden as a cherished community resource and a sanctuary for nature lovers. If you’d like to give, you can do so here. 

We can’t roll out a rebrand without some amazing new upgrades and renovations! Come visit us to explore:

  • Expanded Trails (Available now!) – nearly two miles of new crushed concrete trails were added to the property in Spring 2025, putting us at over eight miles of trails on our property. Plus, our trails connect to the Carolina Thread Trail system, connecting you to over 425 miles of trails that span 15 counties and two states!
  • Big Leaf Café + Shop (Opening in May 2025) – Our former Garden Store has undergone a massive transformation, turning into a sleek café perfect for your lunch break, fueling up before or after a hike or stopping in with the kids after a morning of adventure on the property. You can also find new and improved Daniel Stowe Conservancy merch at Big Leaf, from apparel to hats to water bottles.
  • The Farmhouse Garden Center (Opening in May 2025) – The white house across the parking lot from The Trailhead Store has undergone a complete renovation, transforming from an admin building to a brand new garden center where you can purchase plants, gardening supplies and other home goods. We’ll also be offering hand-on gardening and planting workshops led by our expert horticulture team in this new space.
  • Lost Hollow Expansion (Opening in June 2025) – The signature project of this spring’s renovations is the expansion of the Kimbrell Family Lost Hollow Children’s Garden. This expansion project will add nearly nine acres to the children’s garden and features a half-mile Adventure Trail through woods behind the existing Lost Hollow.  Along the Adventure Trail, kids of all ages will be able to explore five nature themed outdoor “rooms” with unique interactive features in each one. At the end of the Adventure Trail, explorers will reach the Prairie Castle Playground, a three-story, accessible, wooden playground that is designed to match the dramatic medieval theme of Lost Hollow.

The Cottage and White Gardens both received a facelift this off-season. In the White Garden, our most popular wedding location, all new pergolas highlight the changes along with new plantings and walkway improvements. The Cottage Garden transition focuses on creating an authentic, English Cottage Garden vibe while bringing guests closer to many of the plants that abound in the large beds in this garden. The new paths throughout Cottage Garden will also create a more natural experience for guests and allow easy access to the Cottage Patio that features beautiful views of this renovated garden.

Meadowood Walk, the half-mile trail that begins once you reach the end of the formal gardens, was also renovated in the off-season. A new crushed concrete trail makes navigation much easier with strollers or large groups. This scenic trail provides great views of our Piedmont Prairie and winding woods. We’re also working on updating Lakeview Loop, a new, 0.2 mile educational trail walk with views of Lake Wylie, perfect for bird watching and learning more about the environment around you.

All the projects we’re rolling out in 2025 are Phase One of a multi-year masterplan to increase opportunities for unforgettable outdoor experiences at Daniel Stowe Conservancy. Upcoming plans for future phases include:

  • An Education Center and nature-based preschool
  • An outdoor amphitheater seating up to 1,500
  • A restaurant on property
  • Enhanced wedding experiences and new options for venues
  • A boardwalk and sculpture garden
  • Expanded opportunities to explore Lake Wylie through paddling

Our language around membership is shifting slightly, as you will be a member of Daniel Stowe Conservancy, rather than Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, but our membership and admission process will remain the same. The Gardens at Stowe and Garden Pavilion are still the only area of the property that require admission or membership to enter. All trails (beside the ones in the Garden), ponds, The Trailhead Store and The Farmhouse Garden Center are open and free to the public during operating hours. Members will continue receiving benefits, discounts and special events around the property as usual (e.g. Member Preview Night for Holidays at the Garden, discounts at retail locations, etc.)

No, but we will have different hours for different locations on the property (The Gardens at Stowe, The Trailhead Store, The Farmhouse Garden Center, etc.).

Please click here for current hours. 

Our social media and website are the best way to stay on top of news and updates.

Our new website URL:  danielstoweconservancy.org (Be sure to check The Garden Buzz for news!)

Social Media: Instagram – @danielstoweconservancy | Facebook – Daniel Stowe Conservancy | TikTok – danielstoweconservancy | LinkedIn – Daniel Stowe Conservancy

Our Story In Color

Our new colors, seen on our merch, throughout our property and online, were carefully chosen to represent the diverse pathways to nature that can be discovered across our beautiful grounds:

CONCRETE

Our footsteps are rhythmic. There’s a little texture to the surface, as we gently undulate along the landscape.

CRUSHED CONCRETE

The ground crunches softly beneath our feet and lets water permeate so our footing is still solid.

NATURAL TRAIL

Rocks and roots require concentration. There are rises, falls, switchbacks and changes in elevation. This feels more adventurous.

OFF THE TRAIL

We’re on nature’s turf now-senses fully alert. It’s time to get a little lost.

WATER

We discover that some of nature’s loveliest trails don’t have paths, they have wakes.

Stowe at a Glance

380 acres.  8+ miles of trails.

Three retail/food shops.

Endless possibilities.

Our History

We first opened in 1999 as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Dan Stowe had a vision to protect our 380-acres from rapidly developing cityscapes and provide a place where visitors far and wide could escape to nature.

Aerial view of 300 acres surrounding garden

Our Future

In 2025 and beyond, we still look to Dan’s vision for the property as we implement a long range strategic site masterplan that considers how we might best utilize our full 380 acres to inspire a love of nature and its beauty through unforgettable outdoor experiences.