Did you know Lake Wilderness Arboretum is located on the site of a former resort?

In 1969, the King County Parks Department approved a partnership with the original South King County Arboretum Foundation for the development and management of an arboretum on 40 acres of the former Gaffney Resort on Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley.

One year later, the partners engaged an architect to plan an overall design for Lake Wilderness Arboretum. Through the efforts of a growing Foundation membership and devoted volunteers, the old resort’s corral became an active nursery for the propagation of plants, including trees and shrubs.

In 1972, the County installed a well, electricity, a lath house with overhead irrigation and cyclone fencing at the nursery site, followed by the field irrigation installation in the 1980s. These projects were jointly completed with Arboretum volunteers and students hired by the King County Work Program.

In the early 90’s, the community established the use of Lake Wilderness Park and Arboretum for the public, a plan that serves as a guideline as the Foundation continues to develop the Arboretum into a regional resource.

Visit LakeWildernessArboretum.org, email info@lakewildernessarboretum.org or call 253-293-5103 to volunteer, donate or become a member.