Forestiere Underground Gardens (Landmark #916)!

What the Plaque/Guide Says:

Here, beneath the hot, arid surface of the San Joaquin Valley, Baldassare Forestiere (1879-1946) began in the early 1900s to sculpt a fantastic retreat. Excavating the hardpan by hand, he created a unique complex of underground rooms, passages, and gardens which rambled throughout a ten-acre parcel. His work is being preserved as a living monument to a creative and individualistic spirit unbounded by conventionality.

More about California Historical Landmark #916:

Baldassare Forestiere came to Fresno from Sicily to build a citrus empire, but the land he bought was situated on a thick layer of tough rock called hardpan! That made his land totally worthless for growing! At that rate, and with his father’s expectations hanging over him, he realized there was nowhere to go but down!

Over the next 40 years, using picks and shovels, he excavated ten acres of tunnels and rooms, all nestled down in the insulating hardpan that cooled the summers and warmed the winters! There, he was able to plant and grow all kinds of fruit trees and grape vines, even a citrus tree with seven types of citrus (lemon, sweet lemon, grapefruit, sour orange, Valencia orange, navel orange, and cedro) grafted to the same trunk!

Visitors would ring a bell that would travel along a wire to reach his bedroom deep in the maze. He had an underground driveway and parking lot for guests. He even had a fish pond with a clear bottom so he could sit below and watch the fish swim overhead!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!