Culver's Garden Center in Marion expanding into events space

A familiar Marion plant and landscaping retailer is branching out into event hosting.

Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse and Culver's Lawn & Landscape have announced plans for "The Secret Garden," a new indoor event venue situated within its campus at 1682 Dubuque Road. The facility will hold up to 300 guests and is slated to open in summer 2027.

"For more than four decades, Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse and Culver's Lawn & Landscape have helped people cultivate beautiful spaces where life unfolds," said founders Todd and Tami Culver. "Now, we are creating a place where life's most meaningful moments can be celebrated."

The venue is planned to accommodate weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, workshops, art classes, and community gatherings. "Hidden within the scenic grounds of Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse, The Secret Garden is designed to feel quietly removed from the everyday — a place where guests can slow down, reconnect and celebrate," the Culvers said.

The project arrives as the business approaches significant anniversary dates. In 2027, the enterprise will mark 45 years since Todd Culver began mowing lawns at age 12 in 1982, alongside 30 years of the Garden Center & Greenhouse founded by Todd and Tami Culver. The couple met in Cedar Rapids around 1984, and the company broke ground at its current Dubuque Road location in 1997, opening for retail the following spring.

The company has historically operated as a retail garden center and landscaping service, employing more than 200 people annually. Specific financial investments and contractor details for the venue project have not been disclosed.