Beneath the scorched surface of California’s Central Valley, a secret world waits — one carved entirely by hand, room by room, over the course of four decades. In the early 1900s, Sicilian immigrant, citrus grower, and visionary Baldassare Forestiere began turning what was useless farmland into a vast network of rooms, tunnels, and courtyards as a subterranean escape from the sweltering Central Valley summer heat. What started as a practical solution to an unbearable climate became one of the most extraordinary feats of one-man construction in American history.
Forestiere spent decades carving this subterranean wonder by hand, earning it recognition as a California Registered Historical Landmark (#916) and a spot on the National Register of Historic Places — and it’s been featured in outlets like The New York Times, HGTV’s Xtreme Gardens, and CNN’s “World’s Coolest Underground Attractions.” It’s the kind of place that’s difficult to adequately describe until you’re actually standing inside it.
The Story Behind the Shovel
The Underground Gardens are the life-long devotion and hobby of Baldassare Forestiere, a self-taught artist and builder who came to America in 1901 to escape the iron rule of his wealthy father and pursue his own dreams. After arriving in Fresno, Forestiere purchased 80 acres of land that he later found to be unsuitable for farming due to the presence of many inches of hardpan just below the meager topsoil. Rather than giving up, he went underground — literally.
It’s an ironic achievement: the young immigrant originally bought the parcel as potential land to start a citrus empire, yet it proved to be all wrong for growing lush groves. So, with otherwise worthless land, he went down, using no plans other than the ideas in his head. Forestiere worked without blueprints or plans, following only his creative instincts and aesthetic impulses. The result is nothing short of breathtaking.
What’s Down There: Highlights of the Gardens
The Gardens are a subterranean three-level complex of patios, grottoes, and garden courts interconnected with passageways that encircle a four-room living quarters. There are 65 rooms in total, including a summer bedroom, a winter bedroom, a bath, a functional kitchen, a fishpond, and a parlor with a fireplace — interspersed amongst stone walls and archways with grottoes and courtyards that allow for pockets of light.
Unique fruit-producing trees, shrubs, and vines grow underground — some over 100 years old. Open-air skylights allow Forestiere’s collection of fruit trees and grapevines to thrive and bear fruit, even underground. The sight of lush, living citrus trees flourishing beneath the earth is genuinely surreal — and utterly unforgettable.
Ancient Roman-inspired architecture runs throughout — arches, vaults, and stone-built walls that echo the catacombs Forestiere admired from his Sicilian roots. Some ceilings are vaulted and carved like inverted tea cups, while others have skylights adorned with redwood arbors and pergolas with cascading grapevines. Every corner reveals another detail, another deliberate touch of artistry hiding in plain stone.
Forestiere was building a home, and the hand-chiseled underground complex includes such seemingly incongruous touches as an underground fishing pond and a chapel. There’s even a ballroom that Forestiere’s brother finished building to have for family gatherings — also underground. These personal flourishes transform the space from a curiosity into a deeply human story.
The Guided Tour Experience
The tour lasts around an hour and provides exciting insights into Forestiere’s life, his ideas, and his enormous endurance. Multiple visitors highlight the knowledgeable and engaging tour guides, who enhance the experience with their passion for the history and details of the gardens. The guides have a genuine gift for bringing Baldassare’s story to life in a way that lingers long after you’ve climbed back above ground.
Tours are spaced out well, so you won’t feel rushed or as if another group is on your heels — a thoughtful touch that lets the atmosphere sink in at a natural pace. Guided tours are also available in Spanish and offer an alternate route for standard wheelchairs.
Atmosphere & Setting
From the outside, the terrain seems very inconspicuous, almost somewhat neglected — which makes what’s hidden underground all the more surprising. The contrast between the ordinary street-level exterior and the elaborate world below is a big part of what makes the experience so memorable and disorienting in the best possible way.
You’ll never have that creepy feeling of being underground — the house is filled with skylights that also serve as openings where the many fruit trees could peek out. Underground micro-climates create temperature variations of 10 to 20 degrees compared to the surface, making it a genuinely cool retreat — both literally and figuratively.
Using only shovels, picks, and other hand tools, Baldassare excavated for forty years, going as deep as 25 feet underground and spanning over 10 acres. That scale becomes palpable as you wander deeper through the passageways. The weight of that singular human effort is something you feel in your bones while you’re down there.
Other Considerations
Is this a good visit for families? The tour is generally easy to walk and the site is family-friendly, making it a great option for visitors of all ages. Families have brought children as young as eight and found it a fascinating experience, describing it as truly feeling like stepping back in time, with craftsmanship and creativity that are unbelievable.
How much does it cost, and is it worth it? A few visitors mention that the admission price seems high for the experience offered, though the majority still find the Forestiere Underground Gardens to be an intriguing and memorable experience, praising its historical significance and the ingenuity of its creator. For a one-of-a-kind attraction with deep historical roots, most who make the trip feel it’s well worth the price of admission.
Do I need a reservation? Tours are by reservation, and the attraction asks that you give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice if you are unable to make your reservation. Booking ahead online is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during the warmer months when demand picks up.
When is the best time to visit? Forestiere Underground Gardens is closed late December through early March, and on Tuesdays of every week. Spring and fall are ideal — the weather above ground is pleasant, and even on a hot day, it’s noticeably cooler underground, which makes the tour even more enjoyable.
What about parking? Plan to arrive about 20 minutes prior to your tour start time to allow time for parking and checking in — only street parking is available on Shaw Avenue and Forestiere Avenue, and there is no parking lot or designated handicap parking. Arriving early gives you time to settle in without any stress before descending into the gardens.
Any other tips before I go? Guests will be walking on earthen terrain, so dress accordingly. The underground environment also features uneven ground and low doorways in some areas, which may be challenging for those with mobility issues or taller individuals. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes — and if mosquitoes tend to find you irresistible, a little bug spray goes a long way.
Forestiere Underground Gardens
📍 5021 W Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
Website: https://undergroundgardens.com
