Parking
Parking Lot A has reserved spaces for those with mobility challenges. If you need to park in Lot A, please show your state issued placard to parking staff upon arrival and they will direct you. If you do not have a state issued placard but require parking accommodations, please alert parking staff upon arrival. Otherwise, parking staff will direct you to the best available parking spot, which may be in overflow parking and require walking a distance to the beginning of your visit experience. We encourage using rideshare services when possible.
Wheelchairs
Cheekwood provides manually operated wheelchairs as a courtesy to our guests. They are available on a first come, first served basis and can be checked out from a representative upon arrival.
Shuttles
Golf cart shuttles are available upon request to transport guests who need assistance with accessing the Historic Mansion & Museum.
A wheelchair-accessible shuttle is also available for use to transfer guests in wheelchairs from one point to another on Cheekwood’s grounds.
Due to the historic nature of Cheekwood’s property, shuttles are unable to transport guests throughout the gardens.
Garden Pathways
Cheekwood’s grounds are accessible by paved pathways throughout the gardens and leading to the museum. Many garden areas can be reached in a variety of ways, including stair-free options for most specialty gardens. However, due to the historic nature of the property, certain pathways may be narrow, uneven, or steep. Paved paths and stairs are noted on the visitor map.
Historic Mansion and Museum
The Historic Mansion & Museum has a wheelchair accessible entrance, located on the Northeast side of the mansion, just around the corner from the main entrance.
There is an elevator in the mansion that provides access to all four floors (entrance floor, Loggia level, 2A, and 2B).
The Mansion is wheelchair accessible, with the exception of the Drawing Room and Library Room on the Loggia level. The Library is separated from the rest of the Loggia floor by six steps that are flanked by handrails. The Drawing Room is another three steps below the Library level.
Accessible bathrooms can be found on the Ground, Loggia and 2A floors.
Botanic Hall
Botanic Hall is accessible for all, with an automatic door on the right-hand side of the entrance, and no stairs indoors.
Located inside are men’s and women’s multi-stall restrooms, both equipped with an accessible stall and changing table.
The Garden Shop located in Botanic Hall has a ramp but does not have automatic doors.
The Nursing Room is also located in Botanic Hall.
Frist Learning Center
The Frist Learning Center has stair-free entrances on the first two floors and an elevator which provides access to all three floors.
Cafe 29, located in the Frist Learning Center, is accessible from the Courtyard, but does not have automatic doors. The hill to access the Courtyard is steep. If you need flatter access, please follow the Accessible Path on the visitor map.
Every floor of the Frist Learning Center has a bathroom with an accessible stall. Family restrooms with wider entrances and changing tables can be found on the first floor.
Restrooms
Accessible restrooms are located in each building at Cheekwood. See each building’s section for more details.
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome on Cheekwood’s property at any time, we just ask that they are leashed and picked up after.
Please note that Emotional Support Animals are not considered service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.
Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed onsite outside of special dog-friendly events.
Getting Here: WeGo Access Transportation
WeGo Access is a publicly funded paratransit service which offers specialized vans for persons with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transit service. Access provides door-to-door service within Davidson County with a next-day to seven-day advance reservation.
All Access vans are accessible and operate in conjunction with service times of fixed-route buses in Metro Nashville-Davidson County. Other vehicles, such as a taxi, may be used when Access vans are not available. Passengers who are unable to navigate Access services independently will be required to travel with a personal care attendant (PCA).
Pre-Visit Planning Resources
Cheekwood has partnered with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s TRIAD (Treatment & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders) to develop resources designed to help families have a welcoming and enriching experience. As a TRIAD Community Partner, Cheekwood engages in a staff training, modifies existing programs, and develops evidence-based supports and resources for use by their guests. By providing support to families through direct teaching and practice, and by providing ongoing support to local organizations, TRIAD is developing a dynamic network to help families feel comfortable navigating their own community. From arriving at Cheekwood to touring the gardens to taking part in different activities, these Social Stories™ are meant to assist families as they prepare for their visit.
Cheekwood is an historic estate with changing elevations and certain uneven walkways and stairways. Due to the historic nature of much of the gardens and Historic Mansion & Museum, some areas may present challenges to those in wheelchairs, strollers, or who have difficulty walking or climbing. There are several areas that are not accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, including portions of the Historic Mansion & Museum. Daytime visitors are permitted only on paved walkways, mulched trails, and mowed lawn areas. Nighttime special event visitors should use only designated paved walkways. Please do not climb in, on, or over any sculptures, walls, fountains, ponds, water features, or waterfalls, roped-off areas, or trees or any other plants, and always use caution for a safe and enjoyable visit. An abundance of caution should be used while ascending and descending stairways and guests should always use handrails when available.