Paradise Garden Foundation operates, maintains & conserves this historic art site and pet friendly duplex home, offering FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS to Howard Finster's Paradise Garden. #1 shares a porch with #2. Paradise Garden is a non-profit & all guests make a contribution by staying with us. Our listings: www.airbnb.com/p/sleepinparadise
(*Please note: the neighboring "Howard Finster Museum Suite" & "Vision House Museum" is independently owned & has no affiliation or access to the garden.)
The space
Suite #1 is our pet friendly option at Paradise Garden. This charming abode is filled with folk art, interesting books, games, a small Smart TV for rainy days, and boasts a comfortable KING size bed, and a cozy sleeper sofa in the living room. it has a small bathroom with a small shower (no tub), and a bright and clean full size kitchen. The front porch of this Duplex Cottage is shared with the other suite, and has views of the world famous Folk Art Church and Rolling Chair Ramp. Paradise Garden Foundation operates, maintains and restores this historic art site where guests have FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS to Howard Finster's Paradise Garden, including evenings.
(*Please note: the neighboring "Howard Finster Museum Suite" & "Vision House Museum" is independently owned & has no affiliation or access to the Paradise Garden.)
Howard Finster is one of America’s most widely known & prolific self-taught artists of the 20th century, producing 46,991 individually numbered pieces of art and creating a 2.5-acre art environment known as Paradise Garden in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains located in Summerville, Georgia.
Finster designed album covers for the rock bands R.E.M, Talking Heads and Adam Again, and R.E.M. and the country group Blackhawk filmed popular videos in Paradise Garden. Finster’s famous appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson further advanced his fame and audience for his evangelical message. Howard Finster “went home” in 2001 leaving behind his greatest legacy, Paradise Garden.
Today Finster’s art can be found in museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Library of Congress, Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum, New York’s Museum of American Folk Art, and Virginia’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum of Art. In 1984, Howard was selected to represent the U.S. in the prestigious Venice Biennale. Howard Finster’s children’s album was released by the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings label. Finster has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine (2015) and on Smithsonian World TV show (1988), and is included in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
Paradise Garden is a non-profit supported by individual donors, collectors, businesses, gate admissions, gift shop, and revenue from our three Airbnb overnight lodgings: www.airbnb.com/p/sleepinparadise
All of our lodgings have been artfully decorated by Paradise Garden board member and acclaimed designer, Summer Loftin.
Paradise Garden serves as the regional art center providing children art education, workshops, camps, tours for over 600 children a year in addition to providing monthly adult art programming including art classes, music concerts, film, and a two-day nationally recognized art festival.
OUTDOOR RECREATION:
HIKE the Georgia Pinhoti Trail at Taylors Ridge (7.1 miles) or Cloudland Canyon State Park (34 miles).
KAYAK or FISH in the Chattooga (Coosa) River or the lakes at James H. Floyd State Park (7.1 miles). Visit the outdoor art environments of neighboring The Rock Garden in Calhoun (30 miles) or Ava Maria Grotto (110 miles).
RIDE TRAIN with the Tennessee Valley Railroad. During Spring and Fall, ride a special Summerville Steam Train from Chattanooga, TN, to historic Summerville Depot and watch the rare train turntable.
MORE, visit Little River Canyon National Preserve (25 miles) and Rock City Gardens (44 miles).
DINING: Sweet P's (1.8 miles), Willow Tree Grill (4 miles), The Vineyard Vegetarian Café & Juice Bar (3.3 Miles), Jim's Family Restaurant (3.5 miles), The Crushed Tomato (4 miles), Jefferson's (3.1 miles), Thatcher's Barbecue (3.1 miles), El Pueblito Mexican (1.8 miles), Burger Shack (3.4 miles), Canyon Grill (Cloudland 33 miles), Wildflower Café Mentone (22 miles)
DAY TRIPS: Atlanta, Georgia (91.0 miles), Mentone, Alabama (22 miles), Chattanooga (42 miles): Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Tennessee Aquarium, Southern Belle Riverboat, Hunter Museum of American Art.
TRANSPORTATION: Chattanooga Airport (45 miles), Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (101 miles). MEGABUS stop at Chattanooga is located at 2020 E. 23rd St., near Fourth Ave and I-24. From Atlanta and Chattanooga, we suggest you rent a vehicle. Uber, Lyft or taxi transportation is not available in Chattooga County
The Visitors Center/ Gift Shop is open 11am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday. Please note: check out is at 10am. If you arrive after closing and can't stay until 11am to see inside the Visitors Center & to shop in the Gift Shop, please make arrangements in advance and we will do what we can to let you see the Visitors Center & Gift Shop before you leave. (There is no access to the Visitors Center after regular business hours, however you can access the garden at any time during your stay!).
Guest access
Unlimited Access to Paradise Garden. The front porch of the Duplex Cottage is shared with the other suite.
Other things to note
Suite 1 is pet friendly, however you must send a pet request when booking, and there is a $25 fee. We only ask that pets do not get on the furnishings and not be left alone at any time. (They are welcome in the garden and Visitors Center on a leash!) Noisy pets would be a problem with the neighbors in Suite 2, so please only bring well behaved house trained pups. Thanks for understanding!
PLEASE NO OPEN FLAMES (CANDLES, GRILLS, ETC) ON THE BNB PROPERTY OR IN THE GARDEN. Smoking is okay OUTSIDE at the BNB but please be sure doors to the suite are closed or the smoke gets inside. And please leave no trace.
STAY ON THE GARDEN PATHS WHILE EXPLORING! THERE CAN BE MUDDY GROUND IN UNEXPECTED PLACES, especially in the lower garden after it rains.
CHILDREN UNDER 12 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AT ALL TIMES.
If you have visitors, please let us know, and have them check-in and pay admission at the Visitor Center before exploring the garden.
THANK YOU!
