February 18, 2026

Written by: Leyton Furlong

 

For more than 25 years, Twilight Gardens Statuary has been a favorite stop in St. Joseph. Some visitors come ready to add personality to their yards. Others just come to see the gnomes up close. Either way, Twilight Gardens is perfect for shoppers and sight-seekers alike.

I’ve lived in St. Joseph my entire life, and like many locals, I’d pass it and take note of the garden gnomes and dog statues lined up outside the house, as well as the marquee sign that always had something funny to say about its neighbors. However, it was only recently that I stepped foot into the enchanted garden for the very first time to see what I had been missing out on. Entering the garden, I was greeted by a long-time employee, Tony Ashworth, who showed me around and explained how the business operated. 

What you’ll find at Twilight Gardens

At the entrance, countless sculptures lined the entryway. Tony told me that these were the statues ready to be picked up. Inside the garden, there were sculptures and statues of all kinds. Humorous flat tablets, bird baths, religious sculptures, turtles, benches, gnomes, fairies, wolves, wizards, pillars, and a whole host of other whimsical displays lined the walkways of the garden. It’s a remarkable sight and one that viewing it from the street doesn’t do justice to. At the front of the house, there is even a section dedicated to statues of Dogs and Cats.  

I was blown away by the variety of sculptures. Tony did confirm that he and his boss, Todd Cooper, made every single item I saw. Todd Cooper has been making concrete sculptures since he was about 7. In 2001, he opened up Twilight Gardens as a family business. Twilight Gardens has a gigantic catalog of items that are for sale. The laminated catalog book has hundreds of possible molds for customers to choose from, and Tony told me that the list keeps growing each year.  

Custom orders and color options

Customers can choose from 17 different colors for their orders, including a natural paint jo,b which makes the statue look like the real thing. Todd and Tony both told me that customers only pay when they come to pick up their order. During the winter, it’s common for people to wait to pick up the final product in the spring.  

For those not interested in the sales pitch, Twilight Garden is good for anyone who just wants to roam around town on a nice sunny day. It’s a perfect place for anyone interested in fantasy or folk art. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Twilight Gardens Statuary
2205 Mitchell Ave, Saint Joseph, MO, 64507
(816) 364-4808
WEBSITE

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