One Man Spent 40 Years Digging a Secret Underground World Beneath His California Property—and You Can Actually Tour It
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary patch of land in Fresno.
But hidden just below the surface is something almost impossible to believe.
A maze of underground tunnels, courtyards, gardens, and living quarters—all dug by hand by one man over four decades.
It’s called Forestiere Underground Gardens, and it’s one of the most bizarre and underrated attractions in California.
Here’s the story.
How One Man Built an Underground World
In the early 1900s, a Sicilian immigrant named Baldassare Forestiere arrived in Fresno with dreams of starting a citrus farm.
There was just one problem.
The land he bought was terrible for farming—the soil was mostly hardpan, a layer of rock-hard sedimentary clay just beneath the surface.
And the Central Valley heat? Brutal. We’re talking triple-digit summers.
So Forestiere did something nobody expected.
He started digging.
Using nothing but a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow, he began carving out underground rooms to escape the heat—inspired by the ancient catacombs he remembered from Sicily.
He worked on it in his spare time, mostly at night after long days as a vineyard worker.
And he never stopped.
For 40 years—from 1906 until his death in 1946—Forestiere kept digging, building, and planting.
What He Created Is Mind-Blowing
By the time he died, Forestiere had carved out 65 rooms across three underground levels, some reaching 25 feet deep.
The complex spans 10 acres and includes:
A summer bedroom and a winter bedroom (positioned to catch different light and temperatures).
A fully functional kitchen.
A parlor with a fireplace.
An underground fishpond stocked with fish for meals.
A chapel.
And here’s the wild part—he grew fruit trees underground.
Forestiere designed skylights that let sunlight reach the roots below, allowing citrus trees, grapevines, and exotic fruits like kumquats, loquats, jujube, and carob to thrive beneath the surface.
Some of those trees are still producing fruit over 100 years later.
What to Know Before You Go
The gardens are located at 5021 W Shaw Ave in Fresno, just off Highway 99.
You can only see the gardens on a guided tour, which lasts about an hour and walks you through the tunnels, courtyards, and underground rooms.
Reservations are highly recommended—they limit tour sizes and walk-ins may be turned away.
Ticket prices:
- Adults: $17
- Seniors: $15
- Children (5-17): $8
- Under 4: Free
Tours are also available in Spanish.
When to Visit
Here’s something the original article got wrong: it’s not open year-round.
The gardens close for the winter season from late December through late March—the 2026 season opens March 27th.
They’re also closed on Tuesdays and during rainy weather (the courtyards are open-air, so rain affects operations).
The main touring season runs March through November.
As for the temperature—yes, it’s cooler underground, but don’t expect air conditioning.
The tunnels stay about 10-20 degrees cooler than the surface. On a 110-degree Fresno day, that means it’s still around 90-95 underground.
Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers.
One More Thing
There’s currently major High Speed Rail construction surrounding the site, so parking and access can be tricky.
Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour to find street parking and check in.
If you get lost in the construction, call ahead: 559-271-0734.
Why It’s Worth the Trip
This place has been featured in The New York Times, HGTV’s Xtreme Gardens, CNN’s “World’s Coolest Underground Attractions,” and Huell Howser’s California’s Gold.
It’s a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
And somehow, most Californians have never heard of it.
If you’re anywhere near Fresno—or passing through on a Central Valley road trip—this is one of those places you have to see to believe.
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