Kat Von D's black tulip field is a free public display of 15,000 Queen of the Night tulips planted at the corner of W. Turnpike Street and Main Cross Street in Vevay, Indiana, directly in front of her 35-room Schenck Mansion. The field typically peaks in early to mid-April and stays in bloom for about two weeks. Visitors are welcome to view and photograph the tulips from the public road, but the mansion grounds remain private.
A gothic garden along the Ohio River
In the small river town of Vevay, Indiana, one of the most unusual flower displays in the Midwest blooms each spring. Thousands of dark, velvety tulips rise in a moody wave outside the historic Schenck Mansion, where celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D has been quietly turning Vevay into a destination since she moved here from Los Angeles in 2021.
Most tulip fields are filled with bright reds, pinks, and yellows. This one is very different. The variety planted here is the Queen of the Night, one of the darkest tulips in the world. The petals are actually a deep blend of maroon and purple that reads as black in full sunlight, especially as the blooms mature.
How the black tulip field came to Vevay
Kat Von D purchased the Schenck Mansion, a 35-room Second Empire-style estate, for $1.5 million in 2021. She bought it from longtime Vevay resident Lisa Fisher, who still owns the field directly in front of the mansion. The collaboration came together when Von D approached Fisher about doing something with the empty lot.
The first bloom season debuted in spring 2024 with roughly 10,000 bulbs. After a smaller 2025 display affected by deer damage, the 2026 planting expanded to 15,000 bulbs, and the team added designated walking paths through the field. The bulbs are replanted each fall, and the field has become one of the most photographed spring scenes in Indiana.
Stay IN the Know
Get the best of Indiana delivered to your inbox every week.
For more on the area's character, browse our Southeast Indiana coverage and our list of Indiana hidden gems.
When to visit the black tulip field
The tulips typically peak in early to mid-April, depending on the spring weather. In 2026, peak bloom ran roughly April 6 through April 12, with the display open through the end of April. Bloom windows shift year to year with temperature, so the best practice is to follow Hello Vevay or Kat Von D's social channels for real-time updates as April approaches.
If you miss the peak, the tulips can still look striking for a week or two on either side of the peak window, especially in cooler springs. Once the bloom is over, the field goes dormant until the following spring.
How to find the black tulip field
Address: 700 Main Cross St., Vevay, IN 47043 (the corner of W. Turnpike Street and Main Cross Street, directly in front of the Schenck Mansion)
Cost: Free to view from the public road
Hours: Anytime during peak bloom; daylight hours are best for photos
Parking: Park along Main Cross Street or in downtown Vevay public lots and walk over
Stickers: The Vevay visitors center on Main Street gives away free black tulip stickers during the bloom season
Vevay sits in Switzerland County along the Ohio River, about an hour west of Cincinnati and an hour and 45 minutes southeast of Indianapolis.
Stay IN the Know
Get the best of Indiana delivered to your inbox every week.
Visitor tips and etiquette
The mansion is a private residence. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the field from the public road but should follow a few simple rules:
Do not enter the mansion grounds or approach the gate.
Do not step into the flowers or pick the tulips. The paths through the field are for walking; the tulips themselves are for everyone to enjoy.
Be respectful of neighboring homes. The field sits in a residential neighborhood, not a public park.
Tag Hello Vevay or @thekatvond on Instagram if you share photos, and credit the field properly.
While you're in Vevay
Vevay is worth more than a quick tulip stop. The town was named USA Today Readers' Choice Best Small Town in the Midwest twice since 2023, has fewer than 2,000 residents, and traces back to 1813. Highlights include:
The annual Swiss Wine Festival, honoring Vevay's roots as one of the earliest commercial wine-producing regions in the United States
Walkable downtown with historic Second Empire and Federal-style architecture
Ohio River views from Paul Ogle Riverfront Park
The Switzerland County Historical Museum and the Switzerland County Welcome Center
For more spring trip ideas, see our Indiana spring bucket list and historic Indiana towns roundup.
Plan your visit
The black tulip field is one of the most unique spring sights in Indiana, but the bloom window is short. For real-time bloom updates each April, follow Hello Vevay or Kat Von D on social media. Sign up for the Get Indiana newsletter and we'll send a reminder when the 2027 bloom is on its way.