What is an Arboretum?

The Longview Arboretum and Nature Center is a park developed to showcase trees, native plants, wildlife, and water resources with formal gardens right in the heart of Longview, Texas. A short car ride from downtown, the Visitor and Nature Center is located at 706 West Cotton Street. The Visitor and Nature Center is the main entrance for daily tours of the arboretum, and also hosts a charming gift shop, lounge area, meeting rooms for tours and private events, children's classrooms, and party rooms. 

Tourists to the area can discover the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center with a few short turns from Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 80 as well. The Longview Arboretum neighbors the Maude Cobb Activity Center and Longview Convention Complex, and offers a West Gate entrance for special events inside the arboretum via the Maude Cobb Activity Center parking area. As good partners with the events hosted at the Convention Complex, the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center often becomes the quiet respite after a busy event day. 

With almost 3 million dollars raised through private funding, grants, and corporate sponsorship, the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center is actively working toward completing Phase 1 of the overall master plan. With the addition of funding from a 2018 City of Longview Bond Initiative, county grants and Texas Parks and Wildlife grants the total raised to create the infrastructure for phase 1 of the overall master plan represents a five million dollar investment. The Longview Arboretum is a public-private partnership between the City of Longview and the LANC Board of Directors to create together an ever-growing arboretum with privately-managed gardens and enhancements. Future plans and fundraising for phase 2, as well as the development of a greenhouse and children's garden, will be announced in months to come.

Daily admission for the Longview Arboretum will be Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10a-5p, Sundays 12-5p. There is a $5 per person entrance fee, children under 3 and members tour free. Certain gardening projects remain active bringing the Arboretum to seasonal planting goals. We ask for your patience as volunteer crews work to finish all the special elements that will help the gardens shine.