Offbeat New York - PepsiCo Sculpture Gardens

Pepsico Headquarters, Purchase 
About thirty miles north of the busy concrete jungle of Manhattan, in a quiet upstate area, is the headquarters of one of the most famous food and beverages companies of the world. Tucked away in a arboraceous area called Purchase is the headquarters of Pepsico and this very place has become one of my favourite offbeat places in New York! Pepsico headquarters is not one of those corporate spaces where you gape at shiny high-rises, but it is a space where you feel close to nature and art at the same time – courtesy their world class sculpture gardens.


The very first look!

When I moved to New York for my internship, one of my professors suggested Donald Kendall Sculpture garden to me and said that it was her favourite place to visit for tranquil hours, back when she used to stay in New York. Till then, I didn’t even know of this place but once I started researching about this place, I just could wait to visit it.

I still don't know what they were but it sure fascinated me.

This unique 160-acre garden space houses a collection of 45 modern sculptures promoting 20th century structure art which is known for being a fusion of quirky abstract thoughts, earthly elements and cultural features. If you really love art you would be lost in searching these hidden treasures in the vast space. 

The red collection with that classic reflection!

And in case you do not understand art much, you would still lose track of time while enjoying the perfect harmony of Nature’s beauty and Human imagination.

Welcome to my kingdom

The place is called sculpture gardens and not garden for a reason. Apart from the 45 sculptures the area also has a number of distinct lawns, groves, ponds, and fountains, as well as landscaped gardens in the southern side. Every sculpture blends perfectly in the natural setting that is set around it and I just loved spending time at almost all of them.

The subtle play of metal and light

My personal favourite spaces were the mini forest near the totem poles, the pond near the grizzly bear and the harp pond where nature had its own way of displaying its love for music!

And some classic fusion are too!

The best part about this space is that it is offbeat and not well-known like the rest of the visit worthy places of NYC, even though it is just 30 mins by train from Grand Central. Also, I feel this place sure is unique since even after being house of world class structures and being so well maintained, there is absolutely no entry fees.

Totem trio.

And if you are still wondering why the place is called a world class collection of outdoor sculptures, guess what, famous artists like Richard Erdman, Henry Moore, Arnaldo Pomodoro and Alexander Calder (Knew his form of art from Seattle Olympic Sculpture Garden!) So, art lovers for sure you need to visit this place, and nature lovers like me – I think I have given you enough reasons to visit in this post, right?

And they soar...

How to get there?
The best way to reach Pepsico Sculpture Gardens is via train from Grand Central to – Port Chester Station or White plains. By road you can take the NY9A North from Manhattan to reach Purchase.

Time:
Unfortunately, now you can only visit the gardens on weekends from 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM.

Fire!

Things to remember:
Playing sports and taking pets in the garden is not permitted.
It is a no smoking zone.
The park is huge and you have to walk all the way, so carry water! Bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates are prohibited.

Bye for now!



                

Comments

  1. What a beautiful and different thing to visit while in New York! It's so nice for PepsiCo to let people visit the gardens, even if it's just during the weekend, and not charge. I like seeing non-touristy things and I would definitely like to visit if I am ever in NY. The sculptures are very interesting and the area area looks like a beautiful natural escape from the city noises.

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing this! I had no idea this corporate giant had such a beautiful garden within a stone's throw of Manhattan. The sculptures are quite eclectic. What a great find!

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  3. What a stunning place to explore! Sorry for my ignorance but this is the first time that I've heard of it. The garden is so well manicured and beautiful. And the sculptural works are breathtakingly beautiful!

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  4. This is my first time to hear of this place. My friends from NYC haven’t mentioned this to me. It’s quite interesting! The structures are unique and refreshing to see especially if you’re always surrounded by buildings. The bear structure is the cutest!

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  5. I never knew of this place in NYC before. I love art museums and this one is definitely interesting for me. I love that it combined art within a nature setting.

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  6. I was not knowing that such a beautiful Sculpture park exists in NYC. I loved those red collection with classic reflection. Bear sculpture is so cute and also the garden is very green and clean.

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  7. This is a really a hide out place from the city. It's just like finding the hidden sculptures rather than treasures in the forest. It will be amazing to have a walk amongst all that greenery. Loved the design of the sculptures and that pond too. :)

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  8. I honestly never knew this place existed. How great it would be to get out and away from the city to enjoy this natural, beautiful and quiet area. Lovely write up and fabulous photos. Great to know about this for when I next get to the NYC area.

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  9. I have never heard of these gardens! I have spent time in New York and Pepsi facilities, this is such a unique treat! What a lovely art display that you have found.

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  10. I prefer train rides and am glad to know that you can reach here via train. Being so close to Manhattan, it is easily manageable anyways. It is good to know that they have incorporated nature in their landscape and not those jarring modern architecture.

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  11. A beautiful garden hidden in the big city! I would never have imagined New York to have such a unique, nature sculpture garden and free! The nature in itself would be a treat to explore away from the busy hustle bustle. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. I never knew that Pepsico headquarter also has such beautiful garden. frankly, who can even think?
    Thank you for updating us all with your post. Is entry free or is it charged for?

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  13. Oh, a very good friend of mine from college used to live about 5 minutes away from PepsiCo! Haha I loved that little town when I visited. It's crazy to think that only one 40-min train ride away heading North is a completely other ambiance in comparison to the city that never sleeps :)

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  14. Really awesome content! This park reminds me of one I saw in Switzerland back in April. I guess it was a type of off beat Switzerland as well! I love stumbling upon these types of attractions. Sometimes I enjoy them much more than the major tourist sights!!! Thanks for the great post.

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  15. I have been to nyc and never knew about this park before. I totally loved the park and it's on my list for my next trip to NYC . Thanks for sharing

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  16. I was there during new york trip all inclusive deals and that was a good experince for me.

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