Accessibility at Mt. Cuba Center

Mt. Cuba Center is the former private estate of Pamela and Lammot du Pont Copeland. Because it started as a private residence, many paths are uneven, narrow, or steep. More accessible paths are part of Mt. Cuba’s future development plans.

This page details accessibility at Mt. Cuba, but it is not exhaustive. Please contact us with any questions.

• For questions about Mt. Cuba’s accessibility policy or information on this page, please call 302.239.4244 or email info@mtcubacenter.org.
• For accommodation requests or further information about the accessibility of specific programs, please contact Robert Parrett at 302.239.8895 or rparrett@mtcubacenter.org.

Due to our rolling terrain and mulched paths, access to level, even terrain is limited. Please consult our level-terrain map to see the variety of terrain and stair locations.

• Golf cart transportation to select locations throughout the garden is available upon request.
• For your convenience, wheelchairs, walking sticks and a walker are also available upon request at the front desk

Reservations are not required. Please call with any questions in advance of your visit at 302.239.4244.

The Trails throughout Mt. Cuba’s natural lands are maintained in their more natural state and take on a “wilder” aesthetic, as opposed to the carefully curated gardens. More than two miles of Trails meander through fields and forests, over uneven terrain and moderately steep hills. We advise stopping at the Copeland House to visit the restrooms before venturing out onto the Trails. For more information on the Trails, including distances, click here.

Mt. Cuba Center provides indoor and outdoor experiences for our guests and seeks to set expectations for what guests may sense and encounter while visiting. A general sensory guide outlines information about the conditions of different garden areas and what accommodations are available on site.

Admission

General admission tickets can be purchased online or in person during your visit. Classes are offered year-round.

Memberships can be purchased online or in person at the front desk.

Personal Care Assistants

Personal Care Assistants are admitted to the gardens for free in accompaniment of another guest.

Service Animals

Service animals are permitted in the gardens, but pets and emotional support animals are not allowed. Service animals must always remain on marked paths, remain under their owners’ control, and not pose a threat to other guests. Additionally, owners are responsible for cleaning up and carrying out any waste.

Season

Mt. Cuba Center’s general visitation season typically runs from April to November. The gardens are subject to weather and path conditions, and we strive to maintain safe, accessible pathways for our guests.

Classes are held year-round, including during the winter. In the event that we close our facilities due to winter weather we will announce the closure on our website and via email and phone messages to enrolled students.

Umbrellas are available in the Copeland House and at the Ticketing Center for guests to use during their visit.

Parking

Accessible parking is available in the Forecourt with an accessible electric entrance to the left of the Copeland House guest entrance. Mt. Cuba Center does not require a blue, state-issued tag to be displayed to use accessible parking.

Guest Entrance

Cars enter from Barley Mill Road and park in the Guest Parking Lot on the right at the top of the driveway. Accessible parking is available in the Forecourt of the Copeland House where an accessible electric entrance door to access restrooms and classrooms is located to the left of the Guest Entrance door. The Conservatory and Terraces can be accessed using the electric entrance door to the right of the Guest Entrance door.

All guests, including members, must check in at the the Ticketing Center or Front Desk before entering the gardens.

Mobility Devices

Personal mobility devices may be able to access some pathways and terrain. Due to varying terrain and path conditions, please call ahead of your visit.

Mt. Cuba provides a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, and walking sticks on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are not required. Inquire upon arrival.

Elevator

To access another floor of the Copeland House, there is an elevator located across from the restrooms on the Main Floor. This elevator is an original traction-passenger elevator; Guest Experience staff are always available to demonstrate operation and accompany guests to their destination.

Restrooms and Changing Tables

Restrooms are located on each floor of the Copeland House. They include the following restroom facilities:

• Multi-stall women’s and men’s restrooms on the first floor of the Copeland House with accessible stalls and changing tables in each restroom.
• A family-sized, all-gender, single-stall restroom with a changing table is available on the second-floor landing.
• An accessible, all-gender, single-stall restroom is available on the lower level near the classroom.

Portable restrooms are available for use at the bottom of the Dogwood Path and in the natural lands. These restrooms feature hand sanitizer and no-flush toilets. Please note that these restrooms are not accessible and cannot be reached by personal mobility equipment.

Restrooms are not equipped with sharps-disposal container. However, sharps-disposal containers are available upon request at the Front Desk.

Breastfeeding and Pumping

Guests looking for privacy to breastfeed or pump may either request to use a conference room at the Front Desk or may use the family-sized, single-stall restroom on the second-floor landing. There is an upholstered armchair located in this restroom.

Water Station

There is a water-filling station near the restrooms on the Main Floor that has hot and cold water and small cups available for use. Mt. Cuba Center encourages guests to bring a reusable water bottle with them to fill on site and carry. Reusable water bottles are available for $3 at the Front Desk.

Food

Guests may bring their own food with them to the gardens.

Lost Party Identification

If a member of your party goes missing, please consult the nearest staff member. Whenever a guest is on property, there is always Public Safety on site.

Exiting During an Emergency

For the safety of our guests and staff, Mt. Cuba Center closely monitors weather conditions. Guests are cleared from the outdoor public areas during unsafe wind and storm conditions. In this case, guests may either take shelter in the Copeland House or exit the gardens to their cars.