FAQs

Cheekwood is traditionally open Tuesday – Sunday from 9 AM – 5 PM. Please visit the ticketing page for current operating hours by clicking here.

Please visit these links for specific hours:
TRAINS! Hours and Information
Cafe 29 Hours and Information
Gift Shop Hours and Information

Cheekwood is open rain or shine for its general operating hours and special events. No refunds will be issued as a result of inclement weather while Cheekwood or its special event remains open. If, however, Cheekwood or the special event is closed or postponed due to severe weather, ticket holders will be notified via e-mail with rescheduling options. Guests can always find more information about closures on our website or social media.

Tickets are nonrefundable but can be transferred to another date for a fee. Tickets can only be transferred within the same event or program. Exchange is based on availability and is not guaranteed. A new receipt will be sent from [email protected] once the transfer is completed, which can take up to 24 hours. If your request cannot be completed, a Guest Services Representative will reach out to you.

Request a general admission transfer here.

For the safety of our guests and the environment, the following are not permitted at Cheekwood:

• Tobacco products, including e-cigarettes/vapes
• Any source of fire including, but not limited to, camp stoves, candles, tiki torches and barbecue pits
• Balloons, banners, glitter, confetti, birdseed, silk petals, sidewalk chalk
• Alcohol that was not purchased at Cheekwood
• Drones
• Glass containers
• Hoverboards
• Scooters
• Bicycles
• Laser pointers
• Balls, frisbees, and other items for throwing
• Water guns
• Guns, weapons and/or knives (with or without a permit)
• With the exception of specific dog-centric events including Dogs & Dogwoods, Dog Nights of Summer, Halloween Pooch Party, and Dog Photos with Santa, only certified service animals are permitted; pets must stay at home.

The following are prohibited inside the Historic Mansion and Museum:

• Strollers
• Food and drink
• Flash photography, selfie-sticks, and/or tripods.
• Touching the fine art, decorative art (including furniture), and exhibited objects and casework.
• Baby carriers (baby carriers on the body are permitted when worn in the front)
• Large bags, purses, luggage, and backpacks. We recommend storing these items in your vehicle during your visit.
• Using pens, colored pencils, oil paints, charcoal, watercolors, or easels. All visitors are permitted to sketch in the Museum of Art on paper not to exceed 12” x 18” and with lead pencils only. If individuals need to sharpen their pencils, they must use their own containers to collect the shavings.

Pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed onsite outside of special dog-friendly events such as Dogs & Dogwoods, Dog Nights of Summer, Halloween Pooch Party, and Dog Photos with Santa.

Please note that Emotional Support Animals are not considered service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.

Cheekwood is a cashless property. Credit or debit cards are the only form of payment accepted at Admissions, Café 29, Gift Shops, and Bar Kiosks.

To use the grounds for outdoor painting purposes, Cheekwood requires a formal group reservation no less than two weeks before your painting event. Individual reservations are not available. Please email [email protected] to schedule your group’s reservation.

In the Historic Mansion and Museum of Art, using pens, colored pencils, oil paints, charcoal, watercolors, and/or easels is prohibited.

All visitors are permitted to sketch on paper not to exceed 12” x 18” and with lead pencils only. If individuals need to sharpen their pencils, they must use their own containers to collect the shavings.

Many guests find that their visit lasts anywhere from 90 minutes (about 1 and a half hours) to three hours. Remember, Cheekwood sits on 55 acres and the Historic Mansion & Museum of Art is 30,000 square feet! However, Cheekwood is a self-guided experience, so you can explore as little or as much as you would like.

Cheekwood is a historic estate with changing elevations and certain uneven walkways and stairways. Due to the historic nature of many 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 and areas designated for the event. 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.

Parking
Parking Lot A has reserved spaces for those with mobility challenges. If you need to park in Lot A, please show your placard to parking staff upon arrival and they will direct you. If you do not have a placard but require parking accommodations, please alert parking staff upon arrival. Otherwise, please follow the directions from the parking staff to available parking. Parking may be limited, and we encourage using rideshare services when possible. You may be directed to overflow parking and need to walk a distance to the beginning of your visit experience.

Paths
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 institution, certain paths may be narrow, uneven, or steep.

Restrooms
Accessible restrooms are located in each building.

Historic Mansion & Museum of Art
The Historic Mansion & Museum of Art is mostly accessible to all guests. There is an entry ramp, and an elevator to each floor. Two rooms are inaccessible to those unable to walk up or down stairs: the Drawing Room and the Library.
For those attending a private event in the Recreation Room within the Historic Mansion & Museum, there is a chair lift for those unable to use stairs.

Visit our accessibility page for more detailed information.

Cheekwood provides complimentary manually operated wheelchairs as a courtesy to our guests. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be acquired at Admissions upon check-in.

For the safety of all guests, Cheekwood does not allow cars to drive through the property.

Cheekwood provides golf cart shuttle service to guests needing extra assistance during their visit. The shuttles are unable to take guests through the gardens; they only provide service on the main path from Admissions to the Historic Mansion and Museum of Art. Please ask any Cheekwood staff member for assistance during your visit.

For those in a wheelchair, Cheekwood provides a wheelchair-accessible golf cart shuttle service. Please note that you need the wheelchair-accessible golf cart shuttle when requesting assistance.

Yes, all photography sessions must be booked three days in advance. Any pre-planned or posed photography or videography taken on the Cheekwood grounds including, but not limited to bridal, engagement, pregnancy, family, senior pictures, and corporate groups, is considered portrait photography.

After-hours bookings are tentative until the date and time is confirmed by an Event Representative.

Photography & Film Information

Café 29 is located in the Frist Learning Center and offers a casual, made-to-order menu including soups, salads, sandwiches, and baked goods as well as beverages.

Learn more about Café 29.

The café does not take reservations.

Interested in attending a seasonal afternoon tea? Visit our Events page to find upcoming dates.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food. We have several benches and picnic tables on the grounds, or you can bring a blanket. Glass containers and alcohol not purchased at Cheekwood are not permitted.

Alcoholic beverages are available at Café 29 and at bar stations located throughout the gardens during seasonal festivals and special events.

At this time, we offer audio tours of the Cheek Mansion. Audio tours are included in daytime Gardens and Mansion admission and allow for enhanced information about the history of the Cheek family and Mansion. Written and narrated by Cheekwood’s former Writer-in-Residence, Cecelia Tichi, the 45-minute tour winds through the period rooms with stories from the 1930s and 1940s.

Audio tours are available in English and Spanish.

Yes. Any lost items that have been turned over to Cheekwood staff or volunteers are located at Admissions. Contact [email protected], chat with us online, or call 615-353-6965 to inquire about a lost item.

Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred in advance of your original scheduled date and time of visit. Ticket transfers will be charged a transfer fee per ticket. To request a ticket transfer, click here. If you need assistance with tickets (questions, transfers, etc.) the quickest way to contact us is via online chat or email at [email protected]. Any unused tickets are considered a donation to Cheekwood in support of our mission.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Reserving a timed-entry ticket in advance for the time and day of your choosing is the best way to guarantee your entry. During busy seasons and events, Cheekwood may reach capacity and Guest Services staff may be unable to sell tickets onsite.

If you are having trouble purchasing online, please email Guest Services at [email protected] or call 615-353-6965.

Reserving a timed-entry ticket in advance for the time and day of your choosing is the best way to guarantee your entry. During busy seasons and events, Cheekwood may reach capacity and Guest Services staff may be unable to sell tickets onsite. This applies to both Cheekwood members and non-members.

If you are having trouble purchasing online, please email Guest Services at [email protected] or call 615-353-6965.

To learn about discounts and coupons, click here.

Tickets may be transferred to another date in advance of your scheduled date and time of visit for a fee of $5 per ticket.

Tickets can only be transferred within the same program or event. Exchange is based on availability and is not guaranteed. A new receipt will be sent from [email protected] once the transfer is complete, which can take up to 24 hours. If your request cannot be completed, a Guest Services Representative will reach out to you.

Please note, any tickets purchased with a discount are non-transferable and non-refundable.

General Admission Ticket Transfer Request Form

All available tickets are posted on Cheekwood’s online ticket calendar. If tickets are sold out for a given day or time, please select another date or time to visit or continue to check the calendar for real time updates. When reserved tickets are cancelled, the ticketing system automatically releases these for online reservations.

No, the 30 minutes on your ticket is an entry window for you to arrive at Cheekwood. Once you’re here, you’re welcome to stay until we close. Click here for current operating hours.

While we ask that all guests stick to their chosen entry time as best as possible, we understand that life happens. Guests will be permitted entry during operating hours if the ticket date is correct.

With a Garden and Mansion ticket, you are welcome to enter the Historic Mansion and Museum of Art at any point during your visit. Please note that the last entry will be admitted 30 minutes prior to Cheekwood’s closing.

If you are not yet a member and are interested in becoming a member, and you have purchased daily admission tickets, you can use a portion of your ticket price towards your membership purchase. The discount varies depending on which level of membership you purchase. This “Proof of Admission” discount can be applied at the Membership Window in the Admissions building. Present the membership service representative with your ticket receipt to redeem the discount. The discount is applicable only on the day that you use your ticket. A discount cannot be applied retroactively.

To access applicable Member discounts when purchasing online, please choose the time and date that you want to visit on the calendar.

You will then be redirected to a ticketing page where you can log in with the e-mail address and password associated with your Cheekwood Membership. Cheekwood members receive free general daytime admission, and discounted tickets for certain special events and programs, including the Great Spring Art Hop, Thursday Night Out, Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood, Holiday LIGHTS, Songwriters Under the Stars, and more.

Your membership discount is reflected on the final page of the shopping cart.*
*Member discounts cannot be applied or refunded after purchase.

If you have not yet created a login on our website, you can do so here: Create Account

Chat with us online by clicking the chat icon in the lower right corner or email us at [email protected].