It has been tucked away in the heart of Orange, Texas, undisturbed, for half a century. It is peaceful. It is beautiful. It is enchanting. It is Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, and it opens to the public next week. You’ve been hearing about it for months, but how much do you really know about Shangri La?
This serene oasis is nestled on 252 acres along Adams Bayou. It is a haven for area wildlife, including the thousands of birds that nest annually in Shangri La’s Ruby Lake. It is home to more than 300 of the world’s most beautiful plant species and the 1,200 year-old Pond Cypress tree known as The Survivor. This tree is not only the oldest living thing in Texas, but also a testament to Shangri La’s unwavering spirit and strength.
The story of Shangri La dates back to 1937, when local businessman and philanthropist H.J. Lutcher Stark set out to create a mystical retreat inspired by the one he read about in the book Lost Horizon. After much planning, hard work, and construction, Shangri La opened to the public in 1946. It attracted visitors from across the nation until 1958, when a hard freeze destroyed many of the gardens’ plants, including the azaleas – Stark’s favorite. Stark closed the gardens, and they remained that way for fifty years.
With the help of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, Stark’s Shangri La is now reopening as Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. This new Shangri La expands on Stark’s original gardens without losing sight of his vision.
The formal gardens are divided into nine rooms, each with a different theme such as texture or shape. The Nature Center is accessible by boat rides along Adams Bayou. Once inside, you can explore a 15-acre pond built by beavers, a heronry, a bird blind that allows you to look in on the thousands of nesting birds in Ruby Lake, The Survivor, and outposts (outdoor classrooms) that let you absorb the wonder of Shangri La while learning about the world around you in the most natural setting.
An Orientation Center includes a Discovery Theater and museum to help you learn more about nature and Shangri La. Also included are a café and a gift shop that sells Shangri La souvenirs in addition to earth-friendly products – exemplifying Shangri La’s mission of Mentoring Children of all Ages to Be Kind to Their World. Shangri La even earned the prestigious platinum certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the U.S. Green Building Council.
There is much more to see and discover, but the true magic of Shangri La is the experience. You may enter Shangri La with excitement and curiosity, but you’ll leave with an eternal sense of wonder and a whole new appreciation for nature. It may have taken 50 years for this gem to reopen in Orange, but it was well worth the wait. I promise.
This message was also printed in the March 5, 2008, issue of The Orange Leader by guest columnist Nikki Sumrow. You can read a new column each Wednesday in The Orange Leader discussing the latest Orange events and activities. If you would like to suggest a topic for a future column, please contact me at nikki.sumrow@imaginuity.com.
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