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plan your special event

Your special event deserves a special location.

Drone photo of a rambling building set in an expanse of greenery and forest

A wooden plank with small-bite appetizers and a colorful blossom

High-top tables draped with blue tablecloths are scattered around a grassy area with party-goers nearby and an open-air pavilion to the right.

A table setting on a blue tablecloth with a gold-rimmed plate that has asparagus, a piece of cooked fish, and colorful sides.

A stack of split firewood next to an outdoor stone fireplace near an open-air pavilion.

Aerial view of Stoneleigh's Pool House and terrace.

A photo of appetizers on a black circular board and a selection of tidbits on a wooden plank with a glass of white wine.

Sunset over a metal-roofed building with people mingling outside in the summer weather.

A photo of several types of appetizers on a rustic wooden table

A table laden with green and amber glassware

Pool House at Stoneleigh set up for an event rental.

ChesLen Preserve

People gathered in lawn chairs facing an open-air pavilion strung with lights in twilight. Natural Lands’ Lenfest Center Pavilion at ChesLen Preserve offers a beautiful setting for your special event. An open-air pavilion, natural gardens, and an expansive lawn provide a beautiful, customizable outdoor space to entertain up to 150 guests for corporate or personal events. Enjoy outstanding food and exceptional service, with expert event planners to handle all the details necessary to make your vision a reality.

Please note: We are unable to host weddings or wedding receptions.

Because Natural Lands’ ChesLen staff is dedicated to caring for the preserve full time, all Lenfest Center Pavilion rentals are handled through our partners at 12th Street Catering. Rental fees start at $1,800, and the catering minimum charge is $3,500. To schedule a tour or for menu options, please send a message or call 215-386-8595 x 23.

Logo for 12th Street Catering

our exclusive catering partner.

One of the premier full-service catering companies in the region, 12^th Street Catering brings more than 30 years of industry experience, innovative and delicious menus, and the highest level of service to events large and small. Their menus are carefully personalized and curated to satisfy preferences and requests while delivering an amazing culinary experience.

12^th Street Catering is one of the only “green” catering companies in the Philadelphia region. They are committed to providing and incorporating fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients into every dish. 12^th Street’s headquarters has six raised rooftop beds and three plots of land in front of the building to grow produce for their menus.

Stoneleigh: a natural garden

A round table set for dinner at Stoneleigh

Pool House photo by Mae Axelrod

Located in Villanova, PA, in the heart of the Main Line, Stoneleigh: a natural garden is one of the newest public gardens in the Philadelphia region. This magnificent 42-acre former private estate is the perfect venue for your special occasion. Two stunning spaces within the garden are available to rent:

The grand Tudor Revival-style Main House’s first floor and adjoining outdoor terraces, along with a full catering kitchen, is an elegant gathering space that can accommodate 125 guests seated/175 standing.

The Pool House can accommodate 25 guests seated/35 standing, with an adjacent bluestone terrace that can be tented to increase the accommodation to 80 guests seated/110 standing.

Please note: We are unable to host weddings or wedding receptions.

Rental fees start at $1,000. For more information about Stoneleigh rentals, contact us.

A group of people stand and knee with their arms up in front of a large oak tree on a sunny day.

want to explore with a group?

Our properties are pretty spectacular (if we do say so ourselves!), so it’s no wonder we receive frequent and varied requests to use them. We welcome group hikes as long as all participants follow visitor guidelines. Please check Facebook (each property has its own Facebook page) for the most up-to-date information on closings and special events.

Please note that Natural Lands does not permit fee-based activities or weddings at any of our properties, and that professional photographers wishing to use a preserve or Stoneleigh as backdrop for a photo shoot must first join our Featured Photography Program.

Questions? Send us a message.