Cheekwood plans March reopening after January ice storm, promising major spring bloom display

Recovery timeline and reopening plan

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville is preparing to reopen in March after a late-January ice storm damaged trees, gardens and infrastructure across the property. Cheekwood previously closed while crews assessed hazards such as hanging limbs and continuing limb drops during warming temperatures, and while the site awaited restoration of basic operations including power.

Cheekwood has set its signature spring season, Cheekwood in Bloom, for March 7 through April 12, with ticketing handled through its normal admissions system. The reopening date follows several weeks of cleanup work focused on restoring visitor access and stabilizing areas with storm debris and tree damage.

What the storm damaged on the grounds

Cheekwood has described the impacts as substantial, with heavy fallen limbs and the loss of mature trees. The full scale of damage to the arboretum-like collections and garden beds has required ongoing assessment as conditions change and additional limbs fall. Cheekwood’s grounds include thousands of trees and a broad mix of species across its 55-acre landscape.

Cheekwood has also confirmed the loss of one of two 100-year-old oak trees flanking the Historic Mansion. After initially appearing intact following the storm, the tree was later found to have a significant structural crack. Professional arborists determined it could not be saved and would need to be removed, and Cheekwood has said a replacement tree will be planted.

Spring programming and horticultural targets

Cheekwood’s spring plan centers on a large-scale bulb and annual display, with leaders saying visitors will be greeted by approximately 250,000 blooms. The 2026 Cheekwood in Bloom palette is planned around red and white tulips, purple-blue violas and hyacinths, and daffodils incorporated across the gardens.

Cheekwood has also scheduled live music elements on select weekends, including performances by student musicians from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

Broader parks and tree impacts in Nashville

Cheekwood’s recovery has unfolded alongside widespread storm impacts to Nashville’s parks and public greenways. Metro Parks and Recreation has reported damage at multiple facilities, including closures and hazardous trail conditions caused by downed trees and ice. The parks system has also indicated that tree losses across public lands are being counted and assessed as cleanup continues.

• Cheekwood in Bloom dates: March 7–April 12
• Key operational focus before reopening: debris removal, hazard mitigation, and restoration of safe visitor access
• Confirmed tree loss: one of the Mansion’s two 100-year-old oaks, slated for removal and replacement planting

Cheekwood’s March reopening will mark the transition from emergency cleanup to public-facing restoration, with spring displays proceeding even as longer-term tree and landscape recovery continues.