Historic Palm Lodge

Historic Palm Lodge
A 1912 Old Florida Estate in the Heart of the Redland

Some venues give you a beautiful backdrop. Historic Palm Lodge gives you a story, a home, and an entire estate that belongs to you and your guests for the day.

Built in 1912 and officially designated a Miami-Dade County historic site, Palm Lodge is one of the rare places in South Florida where history isn't behind glass. It's the house you get ready in, the gardens you walk through, and the setting your guests will remember long after the last dance. In 2026, the estate received the Dade Heritage Trust Preservation Award, honoring the care taken to protect its architecture, gardens, and legacy.

The Wizard of Palm Lodge Grove

Palm Lodge was the home of Colonel Henry Wallace Johnston of Kentucky, known in his day as the "Wizard of Palm Lodge Grove." In the 1920s, the Colonel turned this property into a world-renowned horticultural destination, growing hundreds of rare tropical fruits and flowers, many found nowhere else in the United States. He raised much of his collection by hand from seed.

Word spread quickly. Botanists, horticulturists, and travelers arrived from China, France, England, Palestine, and Baghdad. Henry Ford came to see the gardens. In all, more than 30,000 visitors made the journey to Palm Lodge to experience what the Colonel had created.

That same spirit of discovery still lives here. Ancient banyans, a towering African baobab, and lush tropical plantings frame the estate, and the main house holds a fireplace built by Edward Leedskalnin, the legendary creator of Coral Castle. Historic artifacts donated by the Johnston family and its descendants remain part of the home today.

The Entire Estate Is Yours

At Palm Lodge, you never share the property with another wedding, a tour group, or the public. Every celebration includes exclusive use of the full two-acre estate: the gardens, the carriage house, and the historic main house, which becomes your private home for the day.

Choose from three distinct ceremony settings:

• Beneath a grand banyan tree
• Under a second banyan dressed in monsteras and hanging planters
• Facing the butterfly garden

Get ready in the house's private suites, gather your guests at the built-in bars, and celebrate surrounded by authentic Old Florida character in every room. With on-site parking, indoor and outdoor sound, and the option to stay overnight in the historic home, your wedding can be a single perfect evening or a full weekend with the people you love most.

Why Couples Choose Palm Lodge

• A 1912 estate with official Miami-Dade historic designation
• 2026 Dade Heritage Trust Preservation Award winner
• Complete privacy with exclusive use of the house and grounds
• Three unique ceremony sites on one property
• Overnight stays available in the historic home
• An intimate setting designed for meaningful celebrations

Historic Palm Lodge is for couples who want more than a venue. It's for those who want to marry somewhere with roots, somewhere with soul, and somewhere no one else can offer. A century ago, the world came here to see something extraordinary. Today, it's your turn.

Tours by appointment. Text 646-552-0811 to schedule your visit.