Situated in Point Washington up in the Panhandle area of Florida -Eden Gardens is 163 upland acres in the midst of South Walton County along the shores of Tucker Bayou and the Choctawhatchee Bay.
Eden has numerous gardens on the 10. 5 acre public grounds. They all surround a beautiful 2 story white house known as The Wesley House with its elegant white columns and wrap-around porch it a magnificent example of homes of its time. Named after a wealthy Florida timber family, the park is part of the original family estate. It was built to house the family of William Henry Wesley a lumber merchant who started his business in 1890 . The house was the family home until 1953 when his wife Katie died. It was sold to someone who never even lived in it and it began to fall in to a state of disrepair until the early 1960' s. In 1963, Lois Maxon a millionairess bought and renovated the home, creating a show-place for her family heirlooms and antiques. The house holds the second largest known collection of Louis XVI furniture in the United States which you can see and learn all about the home and the Wesley family as well as Moxon by taking a guided tour of the house. There is a fee but is is only $4 and certainly adds to your visit. Ask about the cottages that were transported to Grayton Beach and then create your own self-guided tour as you walk through Grayton in search of them. Grayton is nearby on the coast road and is a nice stopping place in its own right. Make sure you stroll along the grounds and enjoy the different gardens which include an English Rose Garden , an Azalea garden and butterfly garden and don' t miss the main one -the camellia garden. There are picnic areas but just sitting by the lake side is just as good as any meal.
The moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens inspire visions of hoop skirts and landed gentry a vision added to by the reflection pond filled with water lilies and large koi -a great place to get a picture of the house -you can almost see the ladies of the south standing on the verandah with their parasols as protection from the sun. . For those that like the more natural look, there are nature trails as well as picnic areas and a fishing dock. . Tours of the Wesley House are Thursday - Monday from 10am-3pm, every hour on the hour and start in the room behind the small gift shop attached to the side of the house .