Littleton's Hudson Gardens - A Hidden Oasis

Littleton CO is known for many things. Quaint homes, community activism, great neighbors and a palpable sense of nostalgia top the list of the town’s attributes.  However, there is a hidden gem within city limits named Hudson Gardens.  A premier display garden, event center, and concert venue, the Gardens call the eastern bank of the South Platte River home.

This irreplaceable Littleton real estate was once owned by Colonel King Hudson and his wife Evelyn. In 1941 they purchased 5 acres along Santa Fe, then a two-lane dirt road, and opened The Country Kitchen restaurant. A risky move, the Country Kitchen grew to be a staple in Littleton life for twenty years.  The restaurant is now the Inn at Hudson Gardens, which is available for special events.

Throughout the stewardship of their land, the couple worked tirelessly on the beautification of their 5 acres, which would eventually grow to 40 acres.  Upon the their retirement, the Colonel continued to add more trees, hedges, and flower beds.

Evelyn became an active community member whose sole mission was to make Littleton, CO as gorgeous as possible. In fact, before her death she set-up a foundation to ensure that her life’s goal to “to preserve, maintain and enhance the natural beauty of [the] property…for the aesthetic enjoyment and education of the public….”, in Littleton was realized. King died at the age of 90 in 1984 and Evelyn followed him in 1988.

Thankfully, their legacy did live on and Hudson Gardens is now an oasis in our concrete world. With views of the Rocky Mountains, their vision has been realized with flower beds, duck ponds, towering trees, wildflower meadows, wetlands, a fragrance garden and a miniature railroad. The Gardens offer self-guided audio tours, and family “explorer packs”. The grounds are also a popular venue for weddings, receptions, company picnics. The ever patient staff also hosts hundreds of school children every year.

There is also a wide variety of classes for adults being offered this year, including bee keeping, wood carving, landscape photography and xeriscaping.

A local secret, Hudson Gardens is also implemented as a unique concert venue.  Many homegrown musicians, as well as big name bands, are welcomed to Littleton by an enthusiastic crowd. The concert-goers come with picnics in hand, folding chairs and blankets to watch such groups as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Guess Who. The children run and dance, while the adults appreciate the cash bar with wine and beer, all under a star-filled Colorado evening. The Gardens have just released their 2011 concert schedule and tickets are going fast!

Hudson Gardens is just south of Littleton Boulevard at 6115 South Santa Fe Drive.  It can also be reached by accessing the South Platte Trail, where you can enter from the back of the Gardens.