The gardens were originally part of the 1750 Dean Hall rice plantation, which depended on fresh water from the
Cooper River. The area that is now a swamp was dug out and fitted with water gates to become a fresh water reservoir. The property had fallen into disuse when, in 1909, Benjamin Kittredge purchased it to use as a duck hunting reserve. During the
Depression, over 200 men built out the of trails around the swamp. It was opened to the public in 1931. Kittredge's son, Benjamin Rufus Kittredge Jr. (1900–1981), donated the property to the
City of Charleston on June 1, 1963. In the 1970s, the house at Dean Hall was moved to Beaufort County for preservation.
Berkeley County took over ownership when the City of Charleston no longer wanted to support the garden. In October 2015, historic flooding hit the state of South Carolina that greatly impacted the botanical preserve. On October 13, it was announced that the attraction would be closed indefinitely following an assessment of millions of dollars of damage. Cypress Gardens officials announced intentions to apply for FEMA assistance. Though they hoped to reopen by the summer of 2016, the park remained closed for nearly four years. On April 13, 2019, Cypress Gardens reopened. Over 3,000 people visited for the Grand Opening. Berkeley County Officials announced the park would remain free for Berkeley County residents until June 30. ==Features and facilities==