Review For The 1897 Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Historic Landmark In Redlands, CA.

[caption id="attachment_1295" align="aligncenter" width="442"] Kimberly Crest House and Gardens[/caption]

I hope my review will be helpful.  This is a beautiful place to spend a Sunday afternoon. We've visited the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens many times, but we were never able to see the kitchen so we thought we would give it another try today.  Well, it really wasn't that great, but the house and grounds are so beautiful it was worth another visit.  It was also a great chance to take more photos which I've included below.

The Kimberly Crest House was built in Redlands, California in 1897 by the Widow Cornelia A. Hill for $12,000.  Later she sold the house for $29,000 to Mr. and Mrs Kimberly of the successful paper company, Kimberly-Clark.   Under their ownership the beautiful gardens were created that you see in the slide-show below and other renovations that were quite significant.

Even though the grounds are breathtaking, as far as walking is concerned, I have to rate the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens a 4 (out of 10 with 10 the best). There are many steep stairs to get to the house that can be difficult for some.  We watched a woman on a walker get to the top with great difficulty.  She was a great trooper, but I just want to warn anyone with walking difficulties. 

The parking lot is quite a distance from the home, and since it's uphill all the way to the porch, it can be a difficult visit. However call ahead because the tour begins in the back of the home where there is a driveway and a place to drive into the back area.  You may be able to drop-off someone in a wheelchair or walker and then go park your car.

 

The Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Tour

The tour of this historic landmark is well-worth the visit.  The Victorian home sits on 6 ¼ acres of Renaissance style Italian gardens and is managed by the Kimberly-Shirk Association, a 501-C3 Non-Profit.   As I said, the tour of the home begins at the back of the home.  The docents are knowledgeable and in love with the home, sot it was a warm experience and quite educational for that time period.

The tour is an easy walk through the bottom floor and part of the second. Because of leakage on part of the top floor roof some of the rooms are being renovated. The stairs to the second floor is easy to walk up. They use the servant stairs to return to the first floor, but if you hold onto the railing it isn't difficult. There is a third floor but it is in use as offices and can't be seen.

The house operates as a museum that is open for public and private tours. The grounds are utilized for a variety of public events and can be rented for weddings or private events.

There is a Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Gift shop and museum in the carriage hour on the back side of the property which was the original carriage house for the horses and buggy.

 

Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Slide Show

 

Kimberly Crest House and Gardens Information

Days Open: Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Phone: 909-792-2111

Fax: 909-798-1716

Address: 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands, CA 92373