Traditionally, the area known as East Knoxville refers to the part of the city east of First Creek, located near the downtown loop. The area surrounds Magnolia Avenue, Dandridge Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and was once a separate city before being annexed by Knoxville in 1868. In the 19th century, residential areas were established when streetcars were brought to this section and development of the present-day Chilhowee Park began.
Since then, the neighborhood has been home to a mix of different races and ethnicities, while also being home to many urban renewal projects to liven up the community. The area is home to a couple of Knoxville attractions. The Knoxville Zoo is located just off of Interstate 40, but the other attraction has garnered attention as well.
A traveler just has to know where to find it.
Located down a small, two-laned street that should be a one-way street, the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum is a beautiful, scenic breath of life to a part of Knoxville that could use a touch-up. Founded in 2001, the grounds span 200 years of plant life and history, while also providing spectacular views of Mt. LeConte and the Great Smoky Mountains. The gardens are home to a bamboo forest, a dogwood nature trail and the historical remains of the C.B. Howell Nursery, once the oldest continually operated nursery in Tennessee until it closed in 2003.
The main attraction for many visiting the park, however, is what happens when the plants are in bloom and it isn't 40 degrees and blustery.
In the spring and summer season, KBGA turns into an outdoor events ground, playing host to weddings and other outdoor events. The stone terraces, courtyards and meeting rooms, along with the aforementioned views from the Great Lawn, make a great and popular combination for engaged couples, business meetings and other events.
Marshall and Natalie Aldredge, a married couple from Knoxville, tied the knot at KBGA on May 31, 2011. Unlike a traditional church setting, the Aldredges wanted something different.
"We had a few criteria in mind as we were looking around," said Marshall. "We knew we wanted an outside wedding, a place to have electricity and a place for our reception that could handle live music.
"The Botanical Gardens fit all of what we were looking for and they had an availability on the day we wanted as well."
KBGA offers several wedding packages, ranging from $800 to $3400 for a more elaborate ceremony at the stone walls. The rental comes with tents, chairs, access to the many rooms around the area of the visitor center and a choice of location on the grounds, depending on the day of the week. For couples like the Aldredges, the location and pure scenery of KGBA made a major impression.
"Our choice for the Botanical Gardens was mainly because we love the outdoors and we wanted a beautiful background for our wedding," said Marshall. "We're outside so often that we thought it would be fitting to have an outdoor wedding.
"We thought the gardens fit a lot of how we wanted our wedding to look."
The rustic atmosphere and the unique dimensions of the multiple setup choices provide a different kind of wedding compared to those in a church or chapel. The sunlight shining through the trees at sundown create a magical, almost heavenly feel, making this a premier destination in Knoxville for celebrating a special occasion.
"The location is flexible, the grounds are well kept, the staff is kind and helpful and the place is beautiful," said Marshall. "That's really all there is to it."
Whether visiting for a wedding reception or for exploring a hidden Knoxville attraction, visitors of all kinds should make KGBA a spot to check out for a couple hours to get away from the city life. The numerous diverse types of trees and other flora, ranging from Kentucky Coffee Trees to bamboo to Lebanon Cedars straight from the Middle East, rival those of nearby nature centers such as Ijams, but without the external distractions to take away from the experience. Going during the warmer months of the year will enhance the experience more and provide a greater atmosphere when everything is in bloom.
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