The Atlas Obscura Podcast Under Our Feet: Forestiere Underground Gardens
Sep 23, 2025
Explore an enchanting underground garden in Fresno, where an intricate maze of rooms bursts with citrus trees. Discover the fascinating journey of Baldassar Forestier, the visionary who transformed rocky soil into this lush oasis. Learn about his innovative underground architecture and the challenges he faced, including land loss after his passing. Today, these gardens thrive, boasting century-old citrus still bearing fruit, a testament to Forestier’s remarkable decades of dedication.
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Cool, Sunny Underground Oasis
- Visitors descend and immediately feel a roughly 10-degree drop in temperature and see citrus trees under skylights.
- Cami Cipolla says the sensory experience—smelling citrus and seeing fruit—outdoes photos or video.
From Boston Tunnels To Fresno Land
- Baldassar Forestier emigrated from Sicily and worked digging Boston subway tunnels before moving west.
- He constantly dreamed of owning a citrus farm like his father's and saved to buy land in Fresno.
Hardpan Spurs Underground Dream
- Baldassar bought 80 acres for $80 but encountered an impenetrable hard pan that blocked planting.
- Facing Fresno heat, he recalled subway tunnels and decided to dig underground spaces instead.