On July 27, 1935, the Chicago Park District opened the restored Phoenix Pavilion with a new tea house and gardens. This collection of buildings and gardens became one of the best examples of Japanese architecture and gardens outside of Japan.

Upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Japan in December 1941, the site was closed. In 1946, the Phoenix Pavilion was destroyed by arson. Soon thereafter, the tea house was removed and the gardens too were lost.

A Japanese garden was established again in 1980, which became the foundation for what is today known as the Garden of the Phoenix.