It wasn’t that long ago that Hamilton County, Indiana, was mostly farmland. When I moved to central Indiana in the mid 1990s, if you drove north from Indianapolis into Hamilton County, city rapidly gave way to corn and soybean fields.

Today, it’s all developed. The Hamilton County towns of Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville have annexed a great deal of the county and, one by one, farmers have sold their land to developers. Office buildings line the major roads now. Everywhere else you’ll find homes, ranging from inexpensive vinyl-village subdivisions, to gated communities of stone and brick homes, to sprawling estates. You’ll also find the suburban shopping centers that follow residential development.

Jesse and Beulah Cox foresaw this all happening. They bought the farm of original Hamilton County settler John Williams in 1958, and by 1974 they had built their dream home on the property. In 1999, they donated their property to the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department to preserve their land, to “create an oasis in a sea of homes,” Jesse said. Their farm, now known as Coxhall Gardens, is a sprawling park. It’s also one of my frequent photographic destinations.

Williams began farming this land in 1855, and built this house on it in 1865.

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL

As you drive by, this house is largely hidden by a row of trees. When the Coxes bought the property, they lived in the Williams house at first.

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL

The Williams’ barn still stands near the house.

At Coxhall Gardens
Canon Canonet QL17 G-III, Agfa Vista 200
Barn
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

Looming behind the barn is the mansion the Coxes built in 1974. (But first, they built and lived in a single-story ranch in what looks like limestone. It still stands, but I’ve never photographed it.)

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL

I was surprised to learn that this large, solid home was built so recently. It looks like something from a hundred years before.

Mansion at Coshall Gardens
Rollei 35B, Fujicolor 200

I especially enjoy the mansion during the warm months, because it is lushly landscaped.

Mansion at Coxhall Gardens
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

I don’t know the significance of this statue, but I like it and have photographed it a number of times.

Statue at Coxhall Gardens
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

I’m partial to this photo of my wife on the mansion’s steps.

Margaret at Coxhall Gardens
Rollei 35B, Fujicolor 200

Not far from the mansion is the ampitheater. The rotunda-like stage is large enough only for a small performance, such as a musical quartet.

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL

Many times I’ve found people here making wedding photographs. This would be a lovely setting for an outdoor wedding.

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL
At Coxhall Gardens
Canon Canonet QL17 G-III, Agfa Vista 200
Up the ampitheater
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

This monument to the Coxes, featuring their quote about the “sea of homes,” stands at the back of the ampitheater.

The Coxes
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

When you walk behind the ampitheater, you find yourself on a bridge over a large pond. From there, you can easily see the park’s two large clocks.

At Coxhall Gardens
Canon Canonet QL17 G-III, Agfa Vista 200
Concrete donut
Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Fujicolor 200

Here’s one of the clocks from a little closer. I don’t know what their significance is, but they are a defining feature in the park. Notice the bells below the clock. I’ve never heard them ring.

At Coxhall Gardens

This is the bridge behind the ampitheater.

Coxhall Gardens
Pentax K10D, 35mm f/2 SMC Pentax-FA AL

Finally, there’s a little “wild west” village in a back corner of Coxhall Gardens, which I imagine might be fun for children.

Wild Wild West
Rollei 35B, Fujicolor 200

You’ll find the entrance to Coxhall Gardens on Towne Road, just north of 116th Street, in Carmel, Indiana.

Reviews of the cameras used in this photo essay: Rollei 35B, Canon Canonet QL17 G-III, Pentax IQZoom 170SL, Pentax K10D.

Get more of my photography in your inbox or reader! Click here to subscribe.


Comments

20 responses to “Coxhall Gardens”

  1. J P Avatar

    This is completely new information to me. I had no idea all this was there and will have to explore it sometime.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I drove by it on my way to work for some number of years and didn’t know it was there. Quite stealthy.

  2. brandib1977 Avatar

    People who recognize the value of nature and green space are some of my favorite people. And now I’m dying to visit the place! Perhaps a spring road trip will find me there!!

    By the way, can you imagine washing all those windows?

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      When you have the kind of money the Coxes must have, you hired people to wash windows!

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        Haha. True. I can’t remember the last time I washed my windows. That should probably be done….. one of these days….

  3. tbm3fan Avatar
    tbm3fan

    Do you have any idea how big this property is in acres. Not too many farmers build amphitheaters.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      It’s about a half mile square, which is about 160 acres.

  4. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    The mansion doesn’t look very home-y.

    I bet there’s a city ordinance against bells so as not to disturb the folk in the sea of homes. :/

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      It doesn’t. I wonder what the Coxes wanted this house for.

      I’ve never heard the bells ring!

  5. Darts and Letters Avatar
    Darts and Letters

    That frame of the barn that’s fourth down in the list is great, I really like that one! The color came through super nice in that exposure. And the portrait of your wife is wonderful, too. Because it’s obviously so candid, what a nice smile. It’s cool when we can capture that crest of happiness and emotion just so, it’s a good feeling.
    -Jason

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Isn’t it interesting how the barn looks so different from shot to shot depending on the light, the lens, and the film/sensor? Just crazy.

      Margaret’s whole face bursts wide when she smiles. I’ve become adept at recognizing when it’s about to happen when I have the camera at my face.

      1. Scott Bennett Avatar
        Scott Bennett

        I wish my smile came across like that in photos.

  6. Steve Mitchell Avatar

    Love this type of place…there is something similar here in Invercargill which was also gifted to the city. An oasis in a sea of hustle and bustle!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Nice! Have you ever shared photos of it on your blog?

      1. Steve Mitchell Avatar

        One of my first posts, it was a very bright day and in retrospect the photos were pretty ordinary. I should go back there ;) You can see the post here viewfromtheendoftheworld.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/southern-gentility/

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          Excellent! I love lavender.

  7. Karen Bryan Avatar
    Karen Bryan

    That second building was intended to be a HOME? It looks as if it could have been a state capitol building. What a beautiful place–an oasis indeed. Thanks!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Good point, I’ve seen smaller county courthouses.

  8. Scott Bennett Avatar
    Scott Bennett

    Thanks, Jim. A fascinating place.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      A hidden gem.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d