By CLTure News
August 18, 2020
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will reopen to the public on Saturday, August 22 after months of limited operations. The grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with reserved tickets required for entry.
Daniel Stowe has been operating at reduced capacity since closing in mid-March. Once the North Carolina state leadership began phased reopening, Garden leadership decided to slowly reopen, but with the proper precautions in place.
“We’ve implemented various protocols to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” said Interim Executive Director Jim Hoffman. “It’s become a new normal for us and our members, so we’re confident we can welcome more people to enjoy the benefits of being in nature and in a garden.”
The Garden has taken a multi-faceted approach to ensure the health and safety of their guests, staff, and volunteers. Plexiglass barriers will be installed at admissions check-in areas to prevent direct interaction. Once inside, signage will be placed around the grounds to guide visitor traffic in a counter-clockwise fashion. Hand sanitizer stations will be made easily available and the Garden will regularly undergo an intensive cleaning regimen. For guests and staff, masks will be required indoors and outdoors when the recommended six feet distance can’t be followed.
Several exhibits will remain closed as part of the safety precautions. The Garden’s Visitor Pavilion, including the Garden Store, remains closed for everything except entry and exit to the Garden. Lost Hollow: The Kimbrell Children’s Garden and The Orchid Conservatory will also stay closed. The inability to maintain new health and safety protocols in these areas was the reasoning behind the decision.
“Lost Hollow has many high-touch surfaces, which would make cleaning and disinfecting difficult,” Hoffman said. “The entrance, walkways, and size of the Orchid Conservatory make social distancing difficult, so we’ve decided to keep it closed for now as well.”
To manage crowds, officials ask that members reserve tickets before leaving home to ensure entrance; public admission is also available through the website. Admission will be limited to 90-minute intervals, allowing only a set number of guests in at a time. Tickets will be made available each Monday for the following Thursday through Sunday.
For more information, visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden website.
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