Forestiere’s Underground Gardens in Fresno, California

Outside the heart of Fresno, California, just off of Highway 99, travelers can find an unexpected gem: a subterranean garden blooming with citrus trees, flowers, and branches heavy with fruit. It’s a marvel that defies every preconception that visitors may have about California’s Central Valley.

Forestiere Underground Gardens is a 10-acre subterranean complex with grottoes, patios, and garden courts that were all completely carved by hand by Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere, who came to America in 1901 with dreams of being a citrus farmer. The unforgiving Central Valley climate had other plans, and he found it difficult to grow oranges and lemons in the cement-like hardpan soil filled with rock and the suffocatingly toasty temperatures. 

However, instead of giving up, he found an unconventional solution: he moved his citrus farm underground.

What started as a practical quick fix became an obsession that played out over his lifetime. Using simple tools like a pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow, he began excavating on his land in 1906 and didn’t stop until his death in 1946. He built rooms and corridors entirely from his imagination, without blueprints or formal training, making an intricate layout that resembles a cave system. 

“The most inspirational part of the underground gardens is the story of a man who came to America with a dream,” says Shera Franzman, director of operations. “He hit obstacle after obstacle, and he found a way to persevere and to work around those obstacles and make something really wonderful.”

Visitors today can tour the historic site, and Franzman says that visitors are always surprised at how extensive the garden is. “The majority of our visitors are just astounded by what they see,” she says.

The real magic lies in what Forestiere managed to grow in this subterranean environment. 20 feet below ground, he cultivated citrus trees bearing oranges, lemons, and grapefruits alongside other fruits like kumquats, loquats, and date palms. Wine grapes cascade through the underground grottoes. Many trees still remain in his underground garden, and his ingenious designs allow fruit to be harvested from the ground level as well. Sometimes, the gift shop even sells the fruits. 

The gardens earned recognition as a California Historical Landmark in 1979 and later secured a spot on the National Register of Historic Sites. The gardens show how Forestiere’s individual determination, paired with creative problem-solving, transformed the challenging environment into a place where people could live in beauty.

Because of its delicate structure, the gardens are only accessible to the public through guided tours. The tours run from March to December and require booking ahead of time. The hour-long tours involve gentle walking, and there is an alternative route for visitors who need wheelchair access. Although there are often same-day reservation spots, Franzman recommends booking ahead of time or calling to confirm there is availability on the group tours. Tickets start at $25 per person.