Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in Detroit
Categories
Location on the map
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, US
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Phone: +1 313-821-5428
Site: https://www.belleisleconservancy...
Site: https://www.belleisleconservancy...
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:10AM–5PM
- Thursday:10AM–5PM
- Friday:10AM–5PM
- Saturday:10AM–5PM
- Sunday:10AM–5PM
Comments (199)
Great selection of tropical and flowering plants, towering palms of many descriptions, as well as succulents. They even have a Voodoo Lily (corpse flower)! The plants are all in amazing condition, showing that they are very well taken care of.
It is free to go here, didnt even see a donation box which was odd.. I know a lot of money and care goes into this type of place. Gotta appreciate stuff like this! Lots of rooms with different with all types of plants for ever climate! It is right next to the aquarium.
Gorgeous. Just go!I loved the poinsettias during holiday season. And was that a tiny disco ball hanging in that room? I think so. Cactus room was cool. Koi pond was closed, but seemed nice from a distance.Well maintained with good labeling of plants. Parking was easy too. What more could you want?
Really cool place to check out if youre in the area. Lots of amazing plants and all within a super cool building with lots of history.Check it out! It is free, but Id encourage you to bring a donation for them to maintain such a cool piece of Detroit history.
What a find. As soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by a friendly volunteer who offered the warm welcome and information on the plants. Beautiful FREE exhibits. Well cared for plants and building. Lots of educational placards.
Nice selection of plants from different regions. Lillys were all blooming and it smelled wonderful. Donations recommended.
This conservatory is free to visit, but I urge you to donate 1$-5$ while you are there!This is a beautiful environment open to the public that is amazing to visit year round. Its near the maritime museum and aquarium on Belle Isle, which makes for a very nice day out.
My child enjoyed the different plants and flowers. A must see for plant enthusiasts. Even though it’s frigid out, the inside was warm.
Cant believe this is free! Beautifully cultivated plant biomes inside and landscaped garden outside. We came in the fall towards the end of many plants lives and it was still very pretty. Cant imagine how stunning it must be in spring or summer. Probably much more crowded!
This is the most beautiful conservatory and for those who dont know it was designed by Albert Kahn (who designed the Fisher/Guardian buildings just to give you an idea on its majesty). It was so amazing to stroll through once again. The paths are a little tight so just be aware of who is behind you in case you want to pace yourself slower. This place is a masterpiece and will give you inspiration whether you have your own garden or just love nature.
Free to the public, but you can donate and it’s worth it. Beautiful building and many different types of plants.
So much beauty, and its free! Loaded with beautiful blooming and fruiting plants. Tropical, cactuses, ferns, orchids and a house cat Outdoor gardens were past season in November but still enjoyable to explore the outdoor grounds too.
Ive been to Belle Isle a few times and finally went to the conservatory! I loved learning about all the fish at the aquarium. The plants at the conservatory were incredible too. Many interesting foreign plants, and some neat fruit trees too! I was able to see bananas growing on a tree which is not something Ive seen in real life before! Overall a really lovely experience with facilities that are well taken care of.
I was at the tail end of a business trip with a little spare time… went to the conservatory by myself. I put in my earbuds with some relaxing music on and it was a meditative experience. Admission is free but if you have some cash on you, consider dropping some in the donation box to help support places like this.
Covid doesn’t exist here. The peace and calming you feel here is incredible. Zen is the new trend
Such an amazing experience and it was free as well. There were hundreds of varieties of tropical plants, even a banana tree. Love love love. And it was located in a beautiful park. This place makes for some amazing pictures and videos and there was even a wedding taking place next door. There is also a pond with lots of koi fish in the garden outside.
Wow what a magical place, and it is free. They do recommend a donation at the aquarium. This conservativatory had multiple rooms that were separated by the different types of enivorments such as tropical. The plants were huge and thriving. It was such a peaceful enviroment. The flow was nice, it didnt feel overly crowded. It is a great daytrip for friends and family.
An amazing collection! The fern and orchid area was closed off, so I would recommend bringing binoculars to experience it.
It was really neat. Lots of different plants and flowers I have not seen before. Easy to find and no problems during my time there. If in the area again I will probably go back.
Very well kept grounds and nice place to walk. We really enjoyed all the unusual plants inside and the bananas were our favorite.
Very cool little place. Lots of nice plants. You need a permit to take professional pictures here. But these are from my iPhone.
Such an awesome place to go! Its free to the public, and there are so many different plants and flowers from all over the world. Its a nice little warm spot, full of oxygen, to visit in the cold months. Just a heads up, the restroom is in the bathhouse outside by the parking lot.Next door is the Aquarium so stop in there next, on the weekends.
What a treat! A nice visit especially during the bleak days of winter.
Small but pleasant. Good for about an hour tour if you take your time. The fragrance inside is amazing. I especially enjoyed the tropical plants section. I was disappointed that the green section was locked off, maybe because I went late. It looked enchanting.
Our family always cherishes our visits to the conservancy. Such a beautiful and historic location.
So many awesome plants, cactus and even some Koi!
If youre visiting Detroit put this place on your must see list! Please consider donating a few dollars to keep this beautiful place going.
A must see if you are in Detroit. Incredible garden, and its free!
I forgot how beautiful and calming it is here....im very happy that this place has gotten better in time
Beautiful place. Building designed by Albert Kahn opened in 1904. Great collection of specimens and very well maintained
I had never been to Belle Isle before and to spend the day here with my family was a blast. Covid has of course caused a lot of places to temporarily close, but this is one place that I cant wait to revisit once things finally calm down. All the beautiful flora and fauna is incredibly relaxing to walk through. Take your time and disconnect from the rest of the busy world and just enjoy the smells and beauty of this place.
I loved the .many and different colored fish that swam up to me for me to feed them. They were beautiful , big and very friendly. The next time I go back Im touching one of those beauties.
Well maintained greenhouses that feature a good selection of tropical plants for patrons to enjoy while they escape the stresses of everyday life, or just immerse themselves in an atmosphere that mimmicks one thats far, far away. Only point that I would make is that more plants should be labeled in case visitors might want to purchase one from their local garden center or know what part of the world it comes from.
Beautiful conservatory!! Such a wide variety of flowers and plants
What a lovely, almost hidden gem. I will visit this conservatory and the amazing surrounding English gardens as often as possible. The entire island is really enjoyable. I have been to the beach, conservatory, aquarium, museum and nature center. I look forward to spending a lot of time on this beautiful island.
Must see attraction for the family!!!! The aquarium is small but still great for kids. The greenhouse is incredibly beautiful.
Very enjoyable visit! Many, many favorable comments about the Conservatory. We visited on a warm day and it was quite warm inside.
Absolutely stunning conservatory. Hundreds of varieties of beautiful exotic plants lovely settings and design.. many rare varieties.
All kinds of tropical and desert plants. They have from giant banyan tree to time cactus where you can’t even see the thornsThere is nice green field in front of conservatory - can be used to organise public functions if available
What can you say about the Belle Isle conservatory other than it’s a gem 💎 and with every minute of your time. The grounds in front of the conservatory have a wonderful garden with hedges and shrubs, and a un-tame impala statue. The conservancy also has an adjacent coy pond between it and the Belle Isle Aquarium where you can watch the coy fish swim. Inside there are several exotic plants as well as a small space to have a wedding. The conservatory also hosts weddings in their garden area, and they have a large fundraiser each year, and the 2019 event in support of the Conservatory is on September 10th.
Love this place. Great place for wedding and prom photos. There was a wedding party there when we visited. Full size palm, banana and fruit trees growing under the huge glass dome. Tropical flowers and cacti. And the outside gardens are great for walking.
An elaborate display of plants from different climates including deserts and tropical areas. Many of the plants are labeled, but there could always be more.
Hands down one of my favorite places on the island, let alone the whole city. Beautiful and peaceful.
Love Belle Isle! We had our wedding ceremony here and it was beautiful! The conservatory interior can accommodate up to 30 guests. For an intimate celebration I highly recommend renting the space. The photos were lovely. The only negative could be if it is a hot day, the room will be quite warm. Didnt bother us, and our guests had paper fans to keep them comfortable.
If you ever visit Detroit this is a MUST SEE! During spring/summer/fall days this conservatory shines inside and out! From a beautiful Koi Pond to the surround manicured lawns and landscape, this place is a Photographers dream for any sort of pictures from Wedding to Yearbook photos. Inside you will first encounter palm tree that is over 70yrs old(come see it within a couple years because it will have to be cut down and a new palm planted. The palm is getting too big for the conservatories Dome). Youll experience jungle plants to desert plants all with a few steps of eachother! A must see!
Even though it was winter I enjoyed looking at the exotic plants. Everything is clean and the plants are really taken care of.The entry is free and I would suggest to leave a donation to keep the conservatory so nice.
A great mini adventure! Loved the koi pond and the giant brightly colored fish when we walked up. Heading inside was like walking into a sauna...glad it wasnt too warm outside. The plants inside were fantastic! Some trees that were two stories tall pressed up to the greenhouse ceiling. Coffee bean trees, giant poinsettias, tiny bananas, avocado trees, lots of color! I bet I took 50 pics. I wish it were larger. We walked thru in about 20 mins. Great venue to have a small wedding or party.
Must-see, when on Belle Isle.Beautiful building, great plant collection, not too large/overwhelming.I have been several times to the St. Louis Botanical Garden, which is considered the finest in the country, as well to the one in Cape Town, South Africa.This conservatory is of course much smaller, but I truly enjoyed it: small but beautiful, as one quote goes.FYI: the photos were not taken with a DSLR, but with a handy system camera Canon G15, a nice compromise between P&S and DSLR.
Was it clean: ✔️Was it kind: ✔️Was it efficient: ✔️Was it straightforward: ✔️Was it zen: ✔️
Absolutely stunning! Brought me back to all the plants Ive once had and killed. Its nice to see tropical plants thriving and not dying like they do in my house.
Great place to beat the winter blahs. Small dog ok if hand held
Very nice display of jungle and desert plants/foliage. Restrooms are across street, which is difficult in cold weather. NO fee, but accepts donations. Unsure if personal photos permitted. Professional, Wedding, Yearbook, etc need permit beforehand.
So nice that we are able to visit the place again. The plants were amazing to look at and learn about.
Amazing architecture, very warm friendly place. Very family oriented. Its like stepping through time when visiting this place. Its neat to see how far aquariums have come.
What an excellent collection!If you are fond of plants, this collection is very impressive. There are several dedicated rooms including the Palm House with some very impressive Palms, the Desert House that has some really amazing Cacti and Succulents, and a Fern House as well as some other rooms and an outdoor pond area and a very large garden.This is the longest continually-running Conservatory (right next to the first Aquarium in the US), and it is a must-see for plant lovers.The hours are Wednesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m, at the time this review was written. I find Wednesday to probably be the best day with the fewest crowds. Usually though, my experience has been that it doesnt get terribly crowded.Bell Isle is a great place close to the city where you can spend an afternoon. If you have a recreational pass (registration sticker is $11 when you renew to add access to Michigan parks), there is no fee. I believe it is around $9 per vehicle otherwise if you are coming from out of state. Personally, if you live in Michigan it is well worth $11 for access to all of the state parks. But specifically in Bell Isle, the state troopers will fine you if they spot your vehicle without the registration pass or a day pass.Entrance to the Conservatory is free.
Pretty cool place. Seen some awesome plants. Didnt cost a thing and its a great learning experience
One of Detroits Crown Jewels located on beautiful Belle Isle right in the heart of the Detroit River. Where else are you going to find a Royal Palm , desert cacti and so much more beauty beyond my post ability.
Amazing place to visit if you are in Detroit, is a quick drive from downtown, I love tropical plants and their collection is wonderful, a papaya tree, a coffee tree, tropical flowers, banana trees and much more. And their entrance fee is by donation! please, please donate.
Belle Isle Conservancy is definitely worth a visit. It is in a heritage building and on the smaller side. That being said they really managed to make use of the space and showcase as many different kinds of plants as possible. The place is really well kept up and clean. The staff were all really friendly. There is lots of parking available.
A day trip to Eastern Market ended at the botanical garden. Belle Isle is really nice under the states management.
Such a beautiful experience
Belle Isle is one of the gems of Detroit and its completely free! Some friends and I visited and the Conservatory was the highlight. There were so many beautiful, interesting and unique plants. Its definitely worth the time.
We enjoyed this historical conservatory, it has many plants and flowers and cacti we have never seen before. You can tell there is a lot of history here and each separate room has a different set of plants, the hot room looks like a little jungle 😀 We enjoyed seeing all the Koi too
A great little relic from Detroits golden age.
Where else can you see Goldfish Plants, Monkey Plants, Purple Waffle Plants, Q-Tip Plants, and Dumb Canes?
This place is great, and FREE!! Wasnt the biggest but we got there close to closing and had time to see everything. I love plants!!
Lovely and affordable place to have a wedding! The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because of their preferred vendors. I chose a vendor from their list and they literally had me in tears on my wedding day! They wouldnt deliver my chairs (which is why all of my guest are standing), my Mic, or arch because they booked my delivery at the wrong time then had the nerve to try to blame it on me! Then they tried to blame it on the staff at the conservatory! But once they realize I had all of my receipts and emails they just flat out starting lying and getting nasty with me, my mom, and my decorator. We BEGGED them to bring my chairs and they came up with all kind of lies and excuses! Then we couldnt contact the people from the conservatory because it was the weekend and no one was there except the staff that opens the gates and makes sure we left on time. So yea, if I were the folks at belle isle I wouldnt do any type of business with those people! The name of the company is Performace Staging in Plymouth, but they also use another name that I cant think of at the moment, but I do remember its under party rental places in Plymouth, Mi. But other than that, I had no issues and I actually liked it better with the guest standing around us and looking back, paying all the money for chairs for such a sort amount of time wouldve kind of been a waste!
We didnt plan to go here during our trip, but bit definitely was the biggest highlight. It is amazing!
Always loved coming to this place bringing family and friends over when they are visiting. Belle Isle is in my list of places to drop by from time to time and the conservatory is one of the prime reasons for it to stay in that list.
Plant lovers will love the conservatory. Tropical and desert plants. Next door to the aquarium.
Please note that it is very warm inside no matter how cold it is out there and the admission is free!! And, there is such a friendly and nice lady who works in the entrance :)
Belle Isle is a hidden gem! Both the Conservatory and the Aquarium are so beautiful and interesting, and a perfect way to spend a few hours, either with kids or just adults. (They are both historical structures. The docents are knowledgeable and friendly, and willing to answer questions.)The Conservatory has several types of climate areas. Be aware that it is very hot in some of them, especially the cactus/succulent area. There is also an outdoor seating area by the pond, accessible from inside the conservatory.Photo opportunities galore! Don’t forget to walk around outside the building where there are beautiful gardens, too.They book parties and weddings in the Conservatory.Admission is free with Belle Isle State Park entry.
Gorgeous flowers, adorable fish, helpful staff. A perfect date spot and very affordable!
Beautiful conservatory and gardens. Although the best part of the trip for the little ones will be the playground the conservatory should not be missed. Room after room of exotic plants, a large and peaceful front garden, and exciting koi pond.
Beautiful place. The conservatory tells stories about the incredible plants that thrive there. I worked most my volunteer hours at BIBS for Master Gardener certification and never regretted a minute of it. A profound walk through to be sure. Really wonderful place!
Such a beautiful place. Can be crowded sometimes but 10/10 would go again!
Visited on a sunny fall Sunday, quite the collection of plants, beautiful structure.. worth a visit and walk through
Well kept, and full of beautiful plants, trees, & flowers. Always a clean and comfortable environment, inside and out.
Very large and nice conservatory with a huge selection of plants both inside and outside.
Beautiful conservatory but bring water to stay hydrated.
A great place to visit on a gray day. Lots of color, texture and variety. Its like going to the tropics and desert on the same trip. Theres no charge to visit bit please leave a donation if you can.
Beautiful facility. Free admission and many plants on site to observe.
I love the conservatory with the beautiful flowers!! I have been visiting here for years!!
Wonderful displays year round. A tremendous collection of plants from across the nation and around the world!
Beautiful. Wonderful informative man working the front. Lovely place for people of all ages. Well kept.
Very serene and tranquil place. Just wish it was open. Visited during off-season
Absolutely beautiful. We had an hour to kill before a flight so we walked around for a bit. Wish we had more time to look around. We only made it to the aquarium and conservatory before we had to go. Will definitely be back someday to finish what we started.
Had a great time taking the grandkids. The island looks great. Always have to do the conservatory when on Belle Isle
It was heartbreaking and history lesson every African American and white need to vist the black museum in Detroit Michigan!
Mind boggingly beautiful. A work of living art.
Again many people visiting, this and aquarium is free. Looking good, and in a great setting
A beautiful conservatory! Highly recommended. Belle Isle is a great place on a nice warm day!
Awesome place you see something new every visit
Very n nice place and well maintained with lot of species.
A variety of different plants from all over the world.
It was a lovely place to visit with family friends or even a day to yourself it had beautiful plants it was seemingly easy access ♿ and the cost was by donation.. I personally had a great time overall!! 🌿🌵🍃💯❤️
Was in awe of its beauty. Wish I could live in it
Beautiful garden. Colors and smells will you conquer with their beauty
Best place in Detroit. Gorgeous
I love it here.. it is very beautiful and peaceful. I recommend tourists to visit this area of the park.
Great place. A must visit if you are in Detroit. They have plants and trees from all over the world. Its temperature controlled and so much fun.
Lots of different rooms and plants to see.
Very nice. Free entry but take donations.
Beautiful is an understatement. Even if you just come to Belle isle for this, it’s worth the trip
Limelight had the pleasure of driving a wedding party to this beautiful venue. Easy accessibility for our vehicle as you can see in the photo.
Wish more plants were labelled! Cant find out what one favorite is.Love the Conservatory!!!
Abundant greenery every place you look! I could spend hours just in one room.
Free entry, but the aquarium was closed for the season. It would be a great location for pictures!
The best free experience you can have in Detroit. All you need is recreation pass and entry is free.
A wonderful place for events!!! Also still a great place for school trips as a kid.
Pretty flowers...lots of them..was there on a field trip...
Love this place. No better way to spend a day in Detroit.
GO HERE. It’s so gorgeous! Especially in winter
Very peaceful spot to take a walk, spend some time in the park. Get a bite to eat. Great was to spend a Sunday afternoon
Very interesting plants, lots of information about the plants too!
Beautiful
Heaven on (belle isle) earth. extra points if you spot the mascot parvo!
What a great and well organized display of familiar and unusual plant life.
Its like a plant zoo, especially with the nearby Oudolf Garden
Awesome and its free
This is such a beautiful place to just walk around and appreciate.
Very nice, Extensive Cactus display. Loved it.
Nicely restored. Beautiful plants. The ladies at the front and the workers walking around were very nice and helpful
Really nice place to go and get away from everything.
Had a wonderful visit! Its been years since I have gone to the conservatory and Im sorry I stayed away for so long. What a beautiful pleasant place to be!
This place is fun to see some banana trees, avocado trees, and the historical building itself.
Took my girlfriend here and had an amazing date.
Really neat building and exhibits. Worth a visit for sure!
I really enjoyed the flowers the plants to see all the different types really excited me and to see all the gifts that God has given us and Im glad yall brought it to Detroit Belle Isle
This conservatory on Belle Isle is really pretty! We stopped by today as we were exploring the island, and (with the exception of the heat) I really enjoyed our visit! Not surprisingly, the conservatory is HOT in the summer. Today was a hot day, and it was steamy in the conservatory for sure. But it was also beautiful! Gorgeous tropical flowers, and the glass conservatory was beautiful, too! Definitely worth a visit if youre exploring Belle Isle!
Absolutely beautiful, had a great time here.
Very quant and lovely conservatory. Much larger than I expected. Nice spot to go to in the cold winter.
Great place to visit real big inside they have lots of floral and tropical plants and even a palm tree it felt like the South to me loved the controlled weather felt like I was back in Florida especially seeing the palm trees
Beautiful and enlightening, especially this time of year. 😊🌾
Loved the many plant varieties. Thank you Detroit for a great time!
Listen I dont even like plants and I still think this is a must-do while in Detroit.
Loved all the different plants here. Truly enjoyed our visit! And for free, its definitely worth a visit!
Beautiful location and amazing variety of plants! Its a must-do for anyone, locals and tourists alike!
Always a beautiful time, and a wonderful way to spend an hour or two on Belle Isle 💚
Very nice botanical garden. Lots of very healthy plants and flowers. Catus garden was amazing what they did to it. Nice to see the pond outside was fixed after so many years of not working. Thank you the staff of Belle Isle for keeping the gardens looking beautiful.
Great place on a winters day.
I remember going to the conservatory in Mid Febuary to break the cabin fever. It was spectacular. The sights, the smells took me to another place and time.
Beautiful! We stayed inside with our troupe but the plants, variety, and foliage were stunning. Love the banana tree and the huge palm inside is breathtaking. Had about 45 mins and that was enough time but will carve out more for the next trip. Dont miss this place
If you havent been to Belle Isle since the DNR took over you should see it. But remember it a park, 25 miles per hour is the speed limit and the cops will remind you it you forget.
Took my friend from Florida to Belle Isle. Had a wonderful day. She hadnt seen Downtown Detroit in a whileVery impressed.
One of my best friends got married here over the weekend. The conservatory was beautiful and well maintained. The record keeping could be better, but the staff was very cordial, except the young boy at the gate. Overall, a very nice place to visit.
Beautiful all year long. The detail and planning can be seen and respected throughout the greenhouse in every room. The best part is while the overall place remains the same plants are constantly changing so a trip every few months is worth it.
Always a Pleasure! Take all the time you need!
Weekdays are quite sparse, not too crowded
You wouldnt expect such a beautiful conservatory in a secluded island! Its just as good as going to the indoor conservatory at Matthei Botanical Gardens. The plants are well maintained, blooming and budding. There are benches at regular intervals if you need breaks.
Warm and inviting, friendly volunteers and a great atmosphere for all ages.
This is a most remarkable place.Truly a blessing for this community
Very beautiful plants and a rich variety.
Gorgeous art deco conservatory / greenhouse gardens. The structure is beautiful on the outside and is full of nice Pathways and walkways on the inside. Different areas are separated by different rooms. Some are very dry summer a lot more humid. The walkways are set up well even for small children and it is easy to get around with a stroller or wheelchair as there are no inclines or stairs.
Nice conservatory. Great collection of various trees, plants, flowers.
A beautiful respite from a cold Michigan winter. The front desk attendant acts as a librarian of sorts, providing incredible insights not only on the plants within the conservatory, but also the history of the structure and the island itself. I cant wait to see what future restorations hold!
Great time with the family! Very warm inside.
Always a wonderful place to visit, and one of my favorite places to photograph.
Beautiful setting, plants & flowers. I highly recommend it and then go right next door to the Aquarium & see the turtle being fed....very interesting...and all the other fish. Great for a fun day out!!!
Awesome place full to the brim with plants. It made my partner feel like home because of the tropical area which even had oranges growing on trees, bananas growing and more. Love the price...free. Cannot wait to visit again!
Lots of history and gorgeous plants.
Tropical. Plants of all kinds from all ecosystems. The tropical plants are the most beautiful to me. A favorite winter destination in Detroit. Recently renovated and looking incredible, the conservatory is to me the best part of Belle Isle. If you have time, visit the aquarium too.
One of the best spots on Belle Isle for both architecture fans and plant lovers. I especially love it here during the winter when the humidity and earthy smells of the the tropical room take me to another place. Banana trees, flowering citrus, exotic orchids, and soothing sounds of the fountain keep me on the bench, relaxing in the heat. In the main rotunda are towering 40ft+ palms. The show-room is a great place for a special photoshoot: For Christmas it is filled with poinsettias, at Easter there are lilies, in the fall it is full of Chrysanthemums. In the warmer months visit the fish pond which is especially fun for kids. Also stroll the outdoor gardens that continue to improve every year with new additions to the perennial beds.
The Anna Scripps Observatory is none of my favorite places to visit and bring guests. The sights, smells and atmosphere keeps me coming back. I enjoy plants, herbs and nature so I especially like coming during the summer. Its a must to visit here when you come to Belle Isle and they have done so much on the island that you will want to come out to see the improvements anyway.
Was there for a wedding. Its a unique venue, very pretty with a variation of plants. It is currently undergoing construction, but it was fun to walk around and see the different plants, each room is unique. There are conservatory cats that wander around that are neat to watch too.
Very cool... must see.
If you are planning to have a wedding ceremony here, please consider going somewhere else. We had a terrible experience, and the staff has been rude to us and not followed up appropriately with our issues. We lost over $1,000 in equipment rentals due to the miscommunications with the park staff. Its a shame, because its a beautiful location. If you want to book an event here, dont do it. Fair warning.
This place was absolutely amazing! So much historical significance and live exhibits. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and personable. She really made an enjoyable trip into an outstandingly memorable one. Thank you!
Incredible feature in the park. They do a great job! We brought relatives from out of town to the conservatory and we were extremely impressed. Free with entry to the park... they do except donations. Go ahead and chip in... well be back.
Theres so many wonderful beautiful plants in the conservatory. Many of them are decades-old which makes them even more interesting. There is a pond outside, fenced-in, that has beautiful outdoor plants around that in gigantic koi that are 30 and 40 years old. Plenty of babies too!
Nice! Loved the tropical part.
Well kept, and very lively, beautiful plants
I have never heard of this place before until my wife saw it online. We decided to check out and we were amazing, this conservatory is beautiful inside and outside. There is some plants inside and the smell and the warm air inside reminded of my hometown in Brazil. I will definitely comeback soon .
Beautiful building, one of my favorites in Detroit. Great variety of plants inside, and the grounds around it are nice as well. Definitely a fun place to stop by on a nice day, or even when its snowing to see it surrounded by snow.
This is probably one of few conservatories/aquariums that is free to the public. The conservatory is a nice trip and a must see on the Belle Isle tour. There was a nice display of various climates and foilage.Sadly, the aquarium has limited weekend hours, so we missed that. Make another loop from the entrance and go to Scott Fountain too!
Im ashamed that its taken me so long to visit! This place is absolutely gorgeous. Its obvious that good care goes into its upkeep, because the greenhouses were clean and manicured, while keeping a very natural, un-landscaped look. The houses were filled with plants and flowers that Id never seen before, and were just breathtaking. Some of the trees were enormous - I was impressed how large the space feels inside. My only minor gripe (not worthy of withholding a star) is that I felt the plants could have been labeled a little better. There were so many things Id love to know the name or family of, but couldnt find a sign.
Beautiful plants. The name placards were very helpful. Beautiful place. No charge to get in and enjoy everything. So many more people can visit with no cost. Great job.
Beautiful, historic conservatory. Staffed by paid horticultural experts and by volunteers. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.Well curated collection of temperate and tropical zone plants of many varieties. Outdoor patio and pond filled with koi during warm weather.Garden statuary and fountains, holiday plant exhibits, and lovely warm weather outdoor strolling areas.Great photo opps abound.
Very enjoyable to see everything
Great place to hide from outside cold. Can we cut some papayas from the papaya tree?
Beautiful. More people than Ive seen in years
Extremely beautiful love coming here!
Great place to visit on this dreary winter day!
As usual the planetarium was amazing. This was my second time taking my 9-yr old grandson. He enjoyed finding the plants pictured on the handout given to children. It was an adventure for us looking for each kind of plant... His fav.. succulents. BTW I am growing an avocado plant at home. Coming into the planetarium, the first plant we noticed was an Avocado plant. He was extremely excited to see it and imagining my little 5 tall plant could grow to be the size of the plant there. 😊
Ive been coming to the Belle Isle Conservatory(and the aquarium next door) since before I could walk. The entire island is beautiful, but the conservatory is truly wonderful. Best visited on those awful snowy sub-zero degree days, so you can walk into the tropics and breathe the fresh air.
Beautiful spot to stretch your legs
Wonderfully gorgeous.
Amazingly beautiful. I never thought the tallest palm tree i see in my life thus far would be in Detroit. Its like a mini tropical jungle. Definetly check this olace out in the winter time. Its like a mini mini get away. So warm.
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. The amount of effort that goes into maintaining the plants, pond, and conservatory is incredible. If you need to escape the cold and snow and be transported to an exotic paradise for a bit, this will do the trick!
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-25This place is awesome. Definitely the best place on the island in my opinion. The house is spectacular and the plants are even better. A huge variety of plants and some are very old and gigantic. Theres a nice blend of different plant sections. I wish the fern area was open but apparently its a liability to have stairs anywhere on the premise. Its a bummer but cool to see into. Its also free so how can you beat that?
Review №2
2022-04-05It felt so nice to be in this conservatory. This is my first ever conservatory and this was a great experience. The air was not to hot or cold and felt refreshing. The plants were beautiful with many different colors and sizes. Even bought some may seem prickly! The staff helped us and told us where everything was on the way in. They had a banana scavenger hunt for the younger children as well. It was so well planned and fun! They had a 100 year old palm tree and it was GIANT. I recommend to anyone who visits the area.
Review №3
2022-05-11This place is awesome. So glad we visited. So much variety of beautiful plants. Flowers I never knew existed. Koi pond was so relaxing. Big surprise for me was the cacti. Donation for entry not required but I highly suggest you give. It is so worth it. Then go next door to the aquarium its historic.
Review №4
2022-02-2210/10! So beautiful! I really enjoyed myself walking around the conservatory this weekend. It wasnt too busy. Lilly pad room was closed but everything else was so well groomed and amazing to see. Will definitely come back!
Review №5
2022-01-22Hands down the best experience! It may have been 18°F outside the day we visited, but stepping into this place certainly helped thaw us out! (Without feeling stuffy or hot) It is free to the public, but I Highly recommend leaving a donation in the box on the way out.They have some plants that I may never have gotten the opportunity to see. Photos included below, but theres the Q-tip plant, a chocolate tree (let alone one WITH pods), and the biggest of them all the King Palm. The photos really dont do justice for the size and grandeur of this conservatory.
Review №6
2022-03-03I love it here, my kids do as well. Lovely place to learn and lots of plants to discover. There is a dessert room, tropical room and regular room. Im disappointed they got rid of the banana tree... but still lots of other plants!!!! Go here!!! You will not be disappointed 🤗
Review №7
2022-04-16Great day trip to Belle Isle! Fantastic conservatory with beautiful Flora and fauna that is sure to impress. Definitely a place to go and check out every once in a while. Definitely go if youve never been!
Review №8
2022-04-05So beautiful and FREE!! No cost to see such beautiful plants of all varieties! They have different rooms with different climats to Mimic the plants natural environment. Friendly and helpful staff. A little crowded during my visit, but it was a Sunday. Ample FREE parking as well. What a unique aquarium as well. Some types of fish Ive never seen before!!
Review №9
2022-01-31Love this space. Lots of different people here! Not a very big variety of plants. Mostly cacti. The fish tanks may have been my favorite part! Many people can be rude and not move so bare that in mind...
Review №10
2022-03-22This is a beautiful plant conservatory.... It has many rooms and walking through it is absolutely wonderful. All the walkways are paved. There is plenty of room and easy to manuver a stroller if you need too. There are a few benches where you can st and relax. We went on a weekend in March. It was not very busy. It is beautiful....check them out. Also, remember that they accept donations instead of a set entry fee. You wont be disappointed in this place.