![]() In 1919, The American City magazine reported that "the city of San Antonio has recently completed a municipal lily pond and a Japanese garden which we believe are unique." When completed, Lambert had spent only $7,000. The pagoda was roofed with palm leaves from trees in City parks. ![]() ![]() Exotic plants were provided by the City nursery and the City Public Service Company donated the lighting system. The garden was termed the lily pond, and local residents donated bulbs to beautify the area. Between July 1917 and May 1918, Lambert used prison labor to shape the quarry into a complex that included walkways, stone arch bridges, an island and a Japanese pagoda. With plans from his park engineer and no money, Lambert was able to construct the Garden. Lambert ultimately came up with the idea of a lily pond which eventually became the Japanese Tea Garden. Koehler donated this land to the City in 1915 for a public park and its location immediately adjacent to the abandoned quarry posed a challenge for City Parks Commissioner, Ray Lambert. Emma Koehler, widow of Pearl Brewery owner Otto Koehler. When the company needed rail lines to expand production, it purchased a new site and closed its Brackenridge Park operation in 1908.īetween the quarry and San Antonio River to the east was an 11-acre tract of land owned by Mrs. The quarry had been leased by the City to stone cutters since the mid-1800s and in 1880, Alamo Portland and Roman Cement Company (later called Alamo Cement Company) began to use the quarry. At that time, there was still an operating rock quarry west of the park on City-owned property. After some improvements were made, the park officially opened to the public in 1901. This tract comprises the largest portion of the park that today bears Brackenridge's name. Brackenridge, donated 199 acres to the City of San Antonio for a public park. In 1899, the San Antonio Water Works Company, through its president, George W. Please note that all professional photography sessions at the Japanese Tea Garden must also be scheduled in advance through the San Antonio Parks Foundation. The newly renovated Jingu House is now open! For inquiries about reserving the garden, visit or call 21. Additionally, the Jingu House and patio, along with the pavilion and waterfall area are available for weddings, luncheons, or other special events through advanced reservation. ![]() The Japanese Tea Garden is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk and is wheelchair accessible. Come visit one of San Antonio’s historical jewels centrally located, just a short distance from downtown. The Japanese Tea Garden features areas available for rent, which are ideal for small weddings, a memorial service, as well as an area for large corporate gatherings, not to mention the renovated Jingu House Café. The Parks Foundation is pursuing its next phase of improvement that will add lighting to the lower garden. Members of the Jingu family, which lived and worked in the Garden, in the 1920s, attended the ceremony, along with the descendents of Ray Lambert, the Park Commissioner who conceived of the idea of turning an abandoned rock quarry into a "lily pond," also attended. The project cost $1,587,470 funded from public and private sources including the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Parks Foundation, and Friends of the Parks. The restored garden features a lush year-round garden and a floral display with shaded walkways, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall and ponds filled with Koi. The garden had been closed while the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and the San Antonio Parks Foundation completed infrastructure rehabilitation to the facility, to include walkways, piping, filtration, wall repairs, and pond sealing. The Japanese Tea Garden reopened in March 2008, with fanfare that included a serenade of Japanese songs by Tafoyalla Middle School Japanese students, keyboard by Carol Gulley, calligraphy and origami demonstrations, and an enormous Koi-shaped cake.
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