Pass Christian, Mississippi: Japanese Gardens (Gone)

Unfortunately, the gardens were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. There is nothing left to see but a sad reminder of what was once a magical place. [Clark Shull, 02/26/2013]

During the late 1930's to the early 40's a military retired couple visited Japan quite often and fell in love with their culture and architecture... So much that they started taking pieces of it home with them. They turned their beachfront property into the locally known Japanese Gardens. Behind the main house there are many tea houses (guest and entertaining houses to them), pagodas, a lovely stream with Japanese bridge work over them in many areas, many other oriental style yard decorations all over the place... and then there is the 20+ foot tall bronze Buddha. Also plenty of bamboo, more like a forest of it. Now owned by a New Orleans filmmaker and his family (signs of small children, toys!) It may not be open to the public...I forgot to ask that.

I came across the place by an old book (1941) I had of the many great sights of the Mississippi Gulf Coast (pre Hurricane Camille). Most things in that book have since been torn down or blown away with the storms but I was determined to find this one. I did only a few months ago. When you walk into this yard you are transported to China or Japan. This place is amazing!