Forest Lawn
4.6(217)google
4.6(67)yelp
Senior-FriendlyOutdoorHealingSecluded & UncrowdedSlow-PacedFreeHistoric BuildingSculpture
Overview
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California, United States. It is the original and current flagship location of burial Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of six cemeteries and four additional mortuaries in Southern California.
Practical Info
Mon8:00 AM 7:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sun8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeBeautiful across all four seasons, this historic 260-acre park-like rural cemetery is a landscape architecture marvel. Visit at 2:00 PM on a clear October afternoon when peak autumn foliage frames the rolling hills. Stroll along the winding Scajaquada Creek; soft light trace the historic monuments of President Millard Fillmore and music legends, surrounded by weeping willows and stone bridges.
Getting ThereThe historic main gates command the corner at 1411 Delaware Avenue in central Buffalo. Drive north from downtown along Delaware Avenue for 2.5 miles straight to the monumental Gothic stone archway; miles of paved interior roads allow for careful shoulder parking. For mass transit, the NFTA-Metro Bus Route 25 runs continuous daily services, dropping off directly at the Delaware/Delavan gateway entrance.
Travel Tips
- As an active working historic cemetery, the gates lock strictly at dusk and all vehicles must exit prior; recreational drone operation is illegal at any altitude inside.
- The 260-acre hilly landscape is mapped with tight, winding one-way lanes; oversized RVs and long trailers are banned as they risk becoming physically wedged on sharp curves.
- Walking on historical headstone bases is strictly prohibited; recreational picnics, loud music, and open audio amplifiers are forbidden across the memorial lawns.
Reviews
Positive
- A park-like cemetery as beautiful as a national park! Rolling hills, ancient trees, scenic lakes, and roaming deer create a stunning blend of nature and history.
- It is the resting place of historic figures like President Millard Fillmore and singer Rick James; highly detailed free paper maps and driving routes offer great cultural value.
- The grounds are incredibly peaceful and solemn. Maintenance is impeccable with smoothly paved roads, perfect for driving or quiet walks during spring blossoms and autumn foliage.
- Completely free to the public with highly convenient parking (legal to park along the wide internal roads); it is a serene oasis to relax and reflect away from city noise.
Heads up
- The grounds are massive (over 200 acres) and maze-like; there are almost no multilingual signs, and English markers are sparse, making it very easy for first-timers to get lost.
- As an active historic cemetery, it lacks centralized public restrooms, water fountains, or rest stations; facilities are scarce once deep inside the grounds.
- Without a car, covering all core celebrity graves on foot is an nearly impossible task; accessibility is poor for international travelers without a vehicle.
- During rare historical tour events, a lack of capacity control and crowd management around popular sights like the Wright-designed mausoleum can cause noisy crowding.