Weathering the Flood at Black Iris Estate

In all our years at Black Iris Estate, we have never experienced flooding quite like this.

We are accustomed to the river occasionally rising during the spring. Previously, the farthest we had seen floodwater extend beyond the riverbanks was approximately 16 to 18 feet. This time, it reached nearly 22 feet, bringing an extraordinary amount of water onto the property.

Fortunately, the areas our clients and their guests use were barely affected. Most of the serious damage happened behind the scenes, particularly in the barn and the mansion basement. We had to move quickly to replace mechanical equipment, clean and restore the affected areas, and keep the venue functioning. Many of the tools we rely on to maintain the property were destroyed, and even our golf carts have experienced problems from being exposed to so much water.

The most visible effect for our fall guests will be the landscaping. Some of the foliage and flowers we planted this spring did not survive. Although the grounds may not look exactly as they normally would this fall, our team has added planted pots and fresh touches throughout the property wherever possible.

Our team has truly worked around the clock—and continues to work—to recover. We are incredibly proud of how everyone came together to protect the venue and continue taking excellent care of our clients.

Black Iris Estate remains open, welcoming, and ready to celebrate all of the beautiful events ahead. We are grateful that the spaces our guests know and love were largely spared, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we continue restoring the parts of the property most affected.