Lake Junaluska offers uniquely beautiful venues to visitors who seek peaceful settings for quiet contemplation.

The climate of Western North Carolina is amenable to growing a wide variety of plants and flowers, and you’ll find thousands on the grounds and in the gardens of Lake Junaluska. Download the Garden Tour Guide for a description and location of all of our lovely gardens, then enjoy visiting one or more and reconnecting with nature and God. Several can be accessed from the lakeside Walking Trail.

Enjoy the gardens as part of a day visit or Lake Junaluska getaway. The gardens and grounds at Lake Junaluska are open for all to enjoy and are made possible through charitable giving. An annual plant sale held in late spring supports landscaping at Lake Junaluska, and bouquets and floral arrangements made with seasonal Lake Junaluska blooms may be available for purchase in advance to lodging guests or for events held at Lake Junaluska such as weddings. For more information, contact us or speak with your Lake Junaluska event coordinator or a reservationist.

Explore the Gardens & Sacred Spaces

Memorial Chapel has roots in a movement in 1944 by the Junaluska Cottage Owners’ Association to raise funds for a Temple of Peace, erected in the name of the Prince of Peace, in honor of those who served in the armed forces in World War II. Inside the chapel is a replica of the Book of Memory, which contains the names of over 90,000 Methodists from the Southeastern Jurisdiction who served in the armed forces during World War II. The stained glass windows bear meaningful Ukrainian Pysanky symbols. Worship services and events such as weddings take place in the chapel. When not reserved for private events, the chapel opens daily mid-day for private prayer.

A beacon of light and hope, the Junaluska Cross near Lambuth Inn was constructed by The Federation of Wesley Bible Classes of the Western North Carolina Conference in 1922. A five-foot stone base supports the 25-foot high Cross, which contains approximately 200 energy-efficient light bulbs for illumination. Directly below the Cross lies the Junaluska Amphitheater, which was constructed in 1988 by the Junaluska Associates. The Cross and the amphitheater provide prime locations for weddings, vesper services, the annual Easter sunrise service and summer youth event worship services.

When in bloom, the lakeside Rose Walk is another scenic treasure found along Lake Junaluska’s walking path and features more than 200 hybrid tea, grandiflora and floribunda roses. It was conceived in 1962 when Dr. Lee F. Tuttle, the World Methodist Council General Secretary from 1960 to 1976, planted roses along a section of Lakeshore Drive. In 1969, the Lake Junaluska Cottage Owners paid to pave the walk and place lights along it. The walk was rebuilt and repaved as a project of the Junaluska Associates in 1993.

Extending over 40 feet into the water, the mediation and fishing can be found along the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail on the south end of the Memorial Chapel parking lot, providing a quiet place for meditation and reflection with incredible mountain views.

Erle and Mary Peacock, former summer residents of Lake Junaluska, inspired the funding of the project. The Peacock family has a history with the lake that spans back to its creation. After Erle and Mary’s deaths, their family decided to commemorate the couple’s love for Lake Junaluska — and Erle’s passion for fishing — by building a new pier for meditation, fishing and viewing the vistas of the lake and mountains.

Inspiration Point is located adjacent to the Lambuth Inn, overlooking the Junaluska Cross. The Point boasts unparalleled lake, mountain and sky views and beautifully landscaped gardens that are in full bloom from early spring through fall. The gardens feature more than 30 different species of plants, including natives and hybrids. In concert with the gardens, the Point’s sculpture of the Christ and Memorial Cross provide focal points for visitors’ reflection and inspiration.

Named for John Wesley’s mother, the Susanna Wesley Garden is a place for prayer and meditation. Dr. Lee F. Tuttle, the World Methodist Council General Secretary from 1960 to 1976, created the Susanna Wesley Garden. The garden is located near The Terrace Hotel. Boasting beautiful color in the spring, summer and fall, the garden is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. It is also available for private functions including weddings, receptions, garden clubs and more.

Located on the front grounds of the Bethea Welcome Center, the Lake Junaluska Biblical Garden was created as a place of beauty and peace. It incorporates plants mentioned in the Bible, including herbs, figs, pomegranates and vines. It also features plants representative of those in the Bible that are more suited to our climate and terrain. A cascading water feature represents justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24) and a Zimbabwe Shona sculpture adds global character to the garden.

Nestled within Stuart Circle, the Corneille Bryan Native Garden is a serene escape for nature lovers. It features more than 500 species of native plants and is a haven for birdlife. Each season of the year provides visitors with the opportunity to see a variety of plants in bloom; early spring is an especially exciting time to visit as the garden awakens from its winter rest. The garden was created in memory of Corneille Downer Bryan, the wife of Bishop Monk Bryan. You can see what’s blooming, as well as learn more about the Native Garden, on the Corneille Bryan Native Garden Facebook page.

As you enter the Francis Asbury portion of the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail, you’ll spot a little garden off to your right. The Butterfly Garden has spectacular views of the lake and mountains beyond and is home to butterflies for most of the year. Make a special visit to the Butterfly Garden in September or October when migrating monarch butterflies stop for nourishment as they head south for the winter. In 2016, Lake Junaluska became a Monarch Waystation, which makes us part of a nationwide program that creates, conserves and protects monarch habitats.

The first labyrinth at Lake Junaluska was built through the love and devotion of Joy and Jimmy Carr, who wanted to create a sacred space for spiritual transformation. Through the generous support of donors, this path was improved in 2017 to ensure the space will be available for generations to come. The labyrinth is located on the lawn east of Memorial Chapel.

The labyrinth is found in many cultures and religious traditions as a walking meditation or path of prayer. Christians began using labyrinths in the Middle Ages as a metaphor for going on a transformational journey to the Heart of God through Jesus Christ. We welcome you to walk our labyrinth as a spiritual practice or an opportunity to quiet your mind.

Surrounded by the majesty of the lake and the mountains, the Lake Junaluska Columbarium and Garden of Memory are quiet, sacred spaces for meditation and respite. The Columbarium is located in the Room of Memory next to Memorial Chapel and serves as a final resting place for those who have passed on. Hardwood pews, a stone floor and beautiful stained-glass windows create a peaceful, contemplative space for those who seek a moment of quiet from the outside world. A walled Garden of Memory lies adjacent to the Room of Memory, providing another secluded area for prayer and meditation, as well as serving as a place to inter ashes in the earth.

Take in stunning mountain views surrounding the serene lake as you stroll along the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail. Along the way, you’ll see gardens and wildlife including our beloved swans and perhaps one of our bald eagles!