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History & Heritage — Sabine Parish

The Legacy of Hodges Gardens

Once the largest horticultural park in the United States — and a memory that still draws searchers to Sabine Parish every week.

Hodges Gardens is permanently closed.

The park closed in 2017 following severe state budget deficits, and ownership reverted to the A.J. and Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation in 2018. There are no plans for the property to reopen to the public. Please do not attempt to visit the grounds. If you are looking for gardens, cabins, and lake recreation in Sabine Parish, our State Parks guide lists the destinations that are open today.

4,700
Acres of Parkland
225
Acre Lake
1950s
Era Built
2017
Permanent Closure

The Vision — A.J. & Nona Trigg Hodges

A Garden in the Piney Woods

Oilman A.J. Hodges and his wife Nona Trigg Hodges transformed a rocky hilltop overlooking a bend of Toledo Bend's future waters into one of the most ambitious private gardens in the American South. Built out across the 1950s, the estate opened to the public as a showcase of horticulture on a scale the region had never seen.

At 4,700 acres, Hodges Gardens was celebrated as the largest horticultural park in the United States — a title it held for decades.

What Made It Special

The Wonders of the Gardens

The 225-Acre Lake

A sprawling man-made lake wrapped the hillside, feeding terraced pools and framing the entire estate.

Waterfalls & Terraces

Rock-cut waterfalls cascaded through formal terraced beds of azaleas, camellias, and seasonal displays.

The Lighthouse

A stone lighthouse on the lake's point became the park's signature landmark and most-photographed view.

The Record — Decline & Closure

How the Gardens Closed

The Hodges family donated the estate to the State of Louisiana in 2007, and it operated as Hodges Gardens State Park. Sustained state budget deficits made upkeep of a 4,700-acre horticultural estate impossible, and the park was closed in 2017.

In 2018, ownership reverted to the A.J. and Nona Trigg Hodges Foundation, which has stated there are no plans for a public reopening. The site remains private property.

Looking for the Hodges Gardens experience today? North Toledo Bend State Park offers waterfront trails, cabins, and gardens-adjacent lake views — see our State Parks guide or browse places to stay in the Accommodations directory .

Hodges Gardens shares its origins with the reservoir itself. Read how the lake was created in The History of Toledo Bend .