Airlie Gardens

Established in 1901, Airlie Gardens is a valuable cultural and ecological component of New Hanover County and North Carolina history. In 1999, a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the commitment of the New Hanover County Commissioners, the cooperation of the previous owner (the Corbett family), and the support of local residents made possible the County’s purchase and restoration of Airlie’s 67-acres of gardens.

I last visited the gardens in the spring of 2006 and it was amazingly beautiful. Especially interesting to me was the old graveyard near the sill functioning Chapel. There are many graves dating back to the Civil War era and even a Medal of Honor winner. It's a wonderful place to take a leisurely stroll or have a spring picnic. Anyone visiting Wilmington should stop here...