A Tree Rescue Inspired California’s Unique Gilroy Gardens Theme Park

by Joe Tracy, editor of Theme Park Magazine

In 1985, an extraordinary convoy wound its way over the Santa Cruz Mountains hauling 29 massive trees, each weighing several tons, in what locals dubbed the “80-Ton Tree Caper.” These weren’t ordinary trees. They were living sculptures of various species like sycamores, ash, oaks, and maples. The trees were twisted and grafted into impossible shapes by a Swedish immigrant named Axel Erlandson decades earlier. Their destination? A patch of land in Gilroy where a nursery owner named Michael Bonfante dreamed of something extraordinary.

That dream became Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, California’s only horticultural theme park, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year (2025). What started as one man’s “tree habit” has grown into something unprecedented in the theme park world: a place where education and entertainment intertwine like the branches of Erlandson’s Circus Trees.

A Marketing Manager’s Full-Circle Story

Cameron Childers knows Gilroy Gardens better than most. As the park’s marketing manager, he’s spent nearly a decade watching families discover the magic that grows here. But his connection runs deeper than professional duty.

“I actually lived literally in that development, just right on that other side as you drove in,” Childers says, gesturing toward the housing development. “So back then I could just walk over, and then go in the front gate.”

He was among the first guests when Bonfante Gardens opened to the public on June 15, 2001, which coincided with Michael Bonfante’s 60th birthday. Now, 24 years later, Childers is helping to shape the park’s future. “I’ve really closed the loop there,” he reflects with satisfaction and joy. It’s a job he loves.

The park where Childers works at daily as an employee has evolved considerably from the one he explored as a child, yet its core mission remains unchanged.

“We must provide something that people cannot experience in urban areas,” founder Michael Bonfante once said.

That philosophy still guides every decision, from the placement of a single bench to the planning of major attractions.

The Visionary Behind the Trees

Michael Bonfante’s path to creating a theme park began with what he called his “tree habit.” In 1975, he opened Tree Haven, a commercial nursery, initially to cultivate and sell large trees. But Bonfante’s ambition extended far beyond commerce. He envisioned a park that would instill in young people an appreciation for the beauty and importance of trees.

This wasn’t a casual business venture. When Bonfante decided to pursue his dream, he sold his successful 27-store supermarket chain, Nob Hill Foods, and personally contributed $70 million toward the estimated $100 million required for the park’s development. He spent many years planning and constructing his vision, personally overseeing the placement of every rock and tree.

“Michael specifically designed them,” Childers explains, standing near one of the park’s waterfalls. “The story is he handpicked every rock and where they were placed. He wanted to be very accurate with how things were portrayed and presented to the guests.”

The Rescue of Living Masterpieces

The centerpiece of Bonfante’s collection came from an unlikely source. In 1946, Axel Erlandson opened his “Tree Circus” in Scotts Valley, featuring trees he’d spent decades grafting and shaping into whimsical designs. Hearts, lightning bolts, basket weaves, and rings, all grown from living wood. When Erlandson died, his extraordinary creations faced an uncertain future.

Enter Bonfante’s “80-Ton Tree Caper” in 1985. He carefully excavated and transported 29 of the surviving trees to his Gilroy property, saving these living artworks for future generations. The iconic Basket Tree, featuring six American Sycamores grafted together, now stands as the park’s centerpiece and appears in its logo.

“There are 42 different intersections creating 41 different holes on it,” Childers notes, studying the intricate weaving of the branches. “Over the time that I’ve grown up here at the park, I’ve seen the tree continue to grow and these holes close up and tighten over the years.”

These trees, now nearing or past the 100-year mark, represent something unique in the world. They’re not manufactured attractions but living beings that continue to grow and change. Visit California has recognized them as one of the state’s “Hidden Gems” (see video at the end of this article).

Evolution Through Challenges

The park’s journey to its current form wasn’t smooth. Despite Bonfante’s substantial investment, Gilroy Gardens faced significant financial challenges during its initial years. Low attendance forced early closures, proving that passion alone couldn’t guarantee commercial success.

A critical turning point came in 2003 when Paramount Parks, which also managed California’s Great America, took over management. This partnership doubled attendance and helped the park achieve profitability for the first time.

When Cedar Fair acquired Paramount Parks in 2006, it continued the management contract until 2021. The transition back to independent operation under the park’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status marked a new chapter.

Living Galleries and Gentle Thrills

Today’s Gilroy Gardens sprawls across its carefully planned footprint with over 40 family rides and attractions, many uniquely themed to reflect the agricultural heritage that surrounds it. But calling them simply “rides” misses the point. Each attraction serves as a gateway to learning about the region’s rich farming tradition.

The Artichoke Dip spins families gently inside a giant artichoke, paying homage to nearby Castroville, known as the “Artichoke Capital of the World.” The Garlic Twirl, essentially teacups disguised as garlic bulbs, celebrates Gilroy’s famous identity as the “Garlic Capital of the World.” Other attractions like the Strawberry Sundae, Banana Split, and Mushroom Swing continue the agricultural theme with whimsical flair.

“You’ll see a lot of different nods to our region here,” Childers explains as he points out various attractions during a walking tour. “Coyote Lake. We have Coyote Lake just up the road, towards San Jose. Our Artichoke Dip ride, our Castroville Corners, Garlic Twirl each represent agricultural significance in the region. Down here we have our Strawberry Twirl ride and then Banana Split. We really try to take that community atmosphere and what the region is known for, agriculture and history, and bring it into the park to connect with the area.”

The park’s commitment to gentle thrills serves its target audience perfectly. The Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster draws inspiration from the historic mercury mines in nearby Almaden, while the Timber Twister embraces a rattlesnake theme that connects local wildlife. Neither will leave teenagers breathless, but both capture the imagination of younger children and create shared family experiences.

Water attractions have evolved since the original Water Oasis opened in 2014. The newest addition, Lakeside Splash, opened in 2024 with premium cabanas featuring 32-inch TVs, fridges, fans, and food delivery service from the adjacent Lakeside Smokehouse. It’s a far cry from typical theme park water features, offering luxury amenities while maintaining the park’s family-friendly focus.

But perhaps the most distinctive experiences come from the park’s six themed gardens, each designed as an outdoor classroom. Claudia’s Garden, named for Michael Bonfante’s wife, offers serenity with its conifer trees, flowerbeds, small waterfall, and tranquil pond surrounding a vintage carousel. The Monarch Garden houses a towering 60-foot semi-tropical greenhouse where visitors can hope to observe migrating Monarch butterflies. On occasion, guests can witness Monarchs moving through their complete life cycle in the dedicated exhibit, with additional educational resources available to uphold the park’s mission when Monarchs are not present.

The Rainbow Garden can only be accessed via the gentle Rainbow Garden Round Boat Ride, which guides visitors through displays of colorful flowers and whimsical topiaries. Meanwhile, the South County Backroads Garden spans nearly two acres, representing the agricultural legacy of the Santa Clara Valley, once known as the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight.”

“This spot generally is always missed, but I like to show it off,” Childers says, walking to a small observation deck that offers views of waterfalls, Lakeside Splash, and the entire lake dotted with paddle boats. “I used to come down here and eat my lunches back in the day.”

Education Grows Alongside Entertainment

What truly sets Gilroy Gardens apart from every other theme park in California is its educational mission. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the park exists to “educate and inspire families, especially children, to appreciate horticulture and the importance of trees in our lives.” This isn’t marketing speak. It’s woven into every aspect of the visitor experience.

The Green Barn learning center serves as mission control for these educational efforts. “We have Natural Science Days, which we see anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 students come out in the month of May,” Childers explains. “We teach them about the anatomy of flowers and the food that we grow and eat. We talk about food chain, life cycles, all that sort of stuff.”

But perhaps the most ingenious program is the Nature Exchange, where young scientists become active participants in discovery.

“Guests can bring in rocks, bugs, minerals, shells, and we try to go through our nature guides to teach them what they’ve brought, or if they already know what they’ve brought, we let them teach us,” Childers describes. “And then we give them points and they can trade the points for other rocks, minerals, bugs, or shells that we have in here.”

The program has attracted remarkably dedicated participants. When asked about the highest point totals, staff member Arabella doesn’t hesitate: “I would say the Cosinburgers have about 700,000.” These regular visitors “bring in full-sized plants, succulents, and they bring in a big bag at least once a summer of their year’s collection.”

The educational philosophy extends to unexpected places. Even the water play areas include lessons on water conservation and environmental stewardship.

“You’ll find quite a bit of educational signage about water cycles and how to keep our water clean,” Childers notes. “It’s just other ways that we can subtly teach kids about the environment and environmental safety.”

Beyond the formal programs, the park’s layout itself encourages discovery. The Bonfante Railroad and Sky Trail Monorail offer different perspectives of the same gardens, allowing visitors to see how ecosystems work from ground level and canopy views. In the greenhouse area, Childers points out the deliberate design.

“You’ll see that there are almost three different layers that mimic and emulate what a rainforest would be like. So you have your lower-level forest floor, then you have your mid-level which will have a lot of our fruit bearing trees, and then that upper canopy level.”

The commitment runs so deep that these fruits are pulled from the very trees and used during the docent-volunteer led Natural Science Day field trip program to educate students and families on the fruits that they can grow and eat.

“We had full-sized avocados ready to eat. We had full-sized mangoes ready to eat. Full-sized pomelos, which were great to eat,” Childers recounts from the previous season. “Most of it goes to waste. It’ll just fall off the tree. But in a blue moon, if I’m walking through and I see a mango fall, I might give it a taste.”

Seasonal Celebrations and Cherry Jubilee

Gilroy Gardens has mastered the art of seasonal programming, creating distinct experiences that encourage repeat visits throughout the year. The approach transforms the same physical space into entirely different worlds, maximizing the value of the park’s unique assets.

The 25th anniversary celebration started earlier this year and ran through spring. It featured live entertainment, historical exhibits, and displays of memorabilia from the park’s quarter-century journey. But the real excitement comes with summer’s inaugural Cherry Jubilee, timed to coincide with the local cherry harvest.

“This is our first year. We just opened it June 6th,” Childers says. “Ultimately, the goal is, if you’ve been to Knott’s with their Boysenberry Festival, same element, same atmosphere in terms of the food-driven component for those who are interested in that, and then our everyday park.”

The Cherry Jubilee represents more than just themed decorations. The park has installed a 5,000-square-foot outdoor rolling rink as a “bit of a throwback experience.” Cherry-themed activities scattered throughout the grounds include “Cherry STEM activities,” where children learn to bake the world’s largest cherry tart, complete with proper ratios and techniques.

“Once they learn how to make the world’s biggest cherry tart, they get to go get a little tasting card to try one,” Childers explains.

Even the funnel cakes get the cherry treatment.

“It’s the same recipe, except we’ve added cherries now. So we have our traditional and our cherry funnel cake.”

Fall brings The Great Big BOO!, a non-scary family-friendly Halloween event featuring original characters that embody the park’s commitment to family-friendly entertainment.

“We have Frankie, who’s our Frankenstein-monster style character. He’s a lounge singer. And then we have Vinnie the Vampire, but he’s afraid of the dark. We’re trying to emphasize the kid-friendly atmosphere with characters that guests may be able to relate to,” Childers describes. The event includes original soundtrack music and unique intellectual property.

Winter transforms the park again with North Pole Nights, complete with ice skating under the stars and holiday-themed shows. The calendar concludes with New Year’s Eve fireworks over Coyote Lake, a fitting end to each year’s season.

“We’re hoping to do it for the next couple of years and see how it grows,” Childers says of Cherry Jubilee. “We always try to tie in the food element as best we can.”

The seasonal strategy serves multiple purposes beyond entertainment.

“Especially for the members that come out three, four, five times, now we’re giving them three, four, five different high-quality events and experiences to enjoy,” Childers notes.

It’s a sophisticated approach to member retention that recognizes how annual pass holders engage with the park throughout the year.

A Culinary Garden of Local Flavors

The food at Gilroy Gardens tells the story of its agricultural surroundings as clearly as any exhibit. This isn’t typical theme park fare, trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience. Instead, the dining options celebrate the bounty of the region with genuine local connections.

Castroville Corners, positioned along the lakefront, serves dishes that directly connect diners to the agricultural landscape. Previously available fried artichokes honor nearby Castroville’s status as the “Artichoke Capital of the World,” while Gilroy Garlic Fries celebrate the park’s hometown specialty. It’s food with a sense of place.

The newest dining addition, Lakeside Smokehouse, opened alongside Lakeside Splash in 2024 and represents the park’s commitment to culinary excellence. ” We do a brisket that’s smoked for 13 hours. Plus, barbecue pulled pork and smoked sausages,” Childers explains.

Similar historical connections to local eateries exist in the park.

“This restaurant is another nod to the local Morgan Hill,” Childers explains while passing one of the eateries. “This is Skeels. It used to be a restaurant called Skeels Orange Freeze in Morgan Hill. We don’t have the same products and recipes, but we kept the name as a tribute to that old food stand.”

The dining strategy reflects the park’s broader philosophy.

“We understand that we’re a smaller theme park and very niche in terms of our location in our region,” Childers acknowledges. “So we try to elevate the food aspect, the cleanliness aspect with the gardens and the upkeep of that, and of course the attractions as well.”

A Community Asset with a Wide Reach

As a city-owned park operated by a nonprofit, Gilroy Gardens occupies a unique position in the theme park landscape. The City of Gilroy receives 10% of revenues, and since 2008, the park has contributed over $1.1 million to the city.

Despite its nonprofit status, the park has demonstrated impressive growth. Its numbers have grown to 400,000 – 500,000 visitors a year. The profit margin has also increased, allowing $8 million to be reinvested in park upgrades since 2011.

The park’s influence extends far beyond Gilroy. Childers recalls hosting groups from as far as Fresno, with second-graders boarding buses at 5:00 a.m. to experience the park’s educational programs. The long day travelling and experiencing Gilroy Gardens tends to tire out the teachers way before the students.

Looking Forward: Growth with Purpose

As Gilroy Gardens continues celebrating its 25th year, expansion discussions carefully weigh growth opportunities against the park’s educational mission. The park is exploring several ideas, including an “adventure park” concept on a nearby hillside that economic impact studies suggest could boost annual attendance and increase revenues.

“There’s been talks at some point about doing like a zip line feature,” Childers mentions, outlining some of the ideas being considered. “But rather than investing all that capital into these big expansions, we like to elevate what we have year after year, because we already have something that’s so unique.”

The connection to the community continues to deepen. Gilroy Gardens have partnered with the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association to use one of the separately gated event venues, South County Picnic Grove, for them to host their festival in late July 2025.

Where Dreams Take Root

Twenty-four years after watching construction as a curious neighbor kid, Cameron Childers now helps steward the legacy Michael Bonfante created. The Circus Trees continue their slow dance of growth, their intertwined branches a living metaphor for how education and entertainment can flourish together.

But Gilroy Gardens has found something deeper than mere survival. In a world of manufactured thrills and artificial experiences, it offers something increasingly rare: authenticity rooted in the earth itself. Here, fun really does grow on trees, and every visit plants seeds of wonder that can last a lifetime.

As families gather around the twisted branches of century-old Circus Trees, sharing cherry funnel cakes and learning about Monarch butterflies, Michael Bonfante’s dream continues to bloom. In an age of digital distractions, Gilroy Gardens proves that sometimes the most meaningful entertainment comes from simply helping people fall in love with the natural world.

The 80-ton Tree Caper that started it all was more than a rescue mission. It was an act of faith in the power of living art to inspire and educate. Twenty-five years later, that faith continues to bear fruit in ways that help further honor Bonfante’s vision.

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park FAQ

Feature image by ©Theme Park Magazine.

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