On this 1,176-acre property, Alfred B Maclay planted the first flower in 1923 with his wife Louise Fleischman. Originally the park was named Killearn after Alfred Maclay’s great grandfather’s place of birth in Scotland.
Eventually it was opened to the public in 1946 and seven years later, 300 acres of the land was graciously donated to the Florida Board of Park Service. In 1965, the park service decided to change the name of the gardens to Maclay Gardens State Park in honor of Mr. Maclay and to also help to avoid any confusion with Killearn Estates which was the new development adjacent to the park.
The garden is filled with a vast multitude of flowers that are visibly seen throughout the park but that’s not all. For a small entry fee, you can take advantage of all of the activities the park has to offer.
There are brick walkways that guide you through the park, bicycle paths to explore, horseback riding trails, and nature trails for hiking. On Lake Hall, you can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming.
There is also a small sanded beach and a playground for families with young children. There are even secret gardens and reflection pools to admire.
The park also offers areas for rent for weddings, birthdays, and pretty much any type of celebration you can think of. There are multiple special events that the park provides for the community every year. Bring your family and friends and come enjoy everything in this amazing park. You’ll be glad you did!