travel north america united states wisconsin spring green house on the rock
House on the Rock is the most unusual, bizarre, and interesting tourist attraction I have ever seen.
We were in Spring Green to see Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, especially Taliesin, and needed a place to stay.
On the internet, I found the House on the Rock Resort which, although quite expensive, looked
beautiful.
We decided to spend a little extra to enjoy our stay while we toured Taliesin.
One of the package room rates included tickets to the "House on the Rock" which, according to the literature was a unique residence perched on a rock.
We opted for the package thinking the house might be an interesting knock-off of FLW's work in the area.
Boy, were we surprised...
This tourist attraction in the Wisconsin Dells is more like a small Disneyland... only bizarre.
Not only was the weird little house on the rock unusual, the "park" included several other areas where the owner, Alex Jordan, displayed his collections of oddities.
The structures that enclose these exhibits are nothing to talk about... mostly large metal sheds.
But, what is inside made for a surprisingly interesting and entertaining visit.
Basically, Jordan was a collector of... everything... from an extensive group of room-sized music machines to models, vehicles, guns, artwork, etc.
If you can think of it, he probably collected it. And, as a visitor, you can walk through the various, clean and sophistically organized, venues and blow your
mind.
My visit included the Mill House, the Original House, the Streets of Yesterday, the Heritage of the Sea, a Tribute to Nostalgia, the Music of Yesterday, the Spirit of Aviation, and the worlds largest carousel.
LINK TO WEB PAGE ON HOUSE ON THE ROCK
TRAVEL: 2011 -
This location has earned a five star rating from
Travel Fanatics Unlimited
*****
unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
A long series of large urns with fantastical creatures crawling over them grace the entry drive (left) at House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin (2011)
When you first enter, you have the opportunity to go through a museum (right) that tries to explain Alex Jordan, his history, and his vision.
This garden greets you as you bridge across in on your way to the House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Alex Jordan's House on the Rock is a strange mixture of kitsch and valuable art pieces including what looked like Tiffany glass, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Asian art and carved wooden screens are reoccurring themes in the House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
The Infinity Room at House on the Rock is a "springy" cantilevered structure that hangs 218 feet out over the valley below.
It is evenly tapered most of the way, then only visually in scale for the last few feet.
Near the end is a glass window in the floor. Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
(Photo by House on the Rock)
The infinity room, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
The "Streets of Yesterday" at House on the Rock puts you in old, winding, brick paved, lamp lit, streets of yore.
Since the whole exhibit is inside a large "shed", it is perpetual night time here and the lighting is warm and inviting.
A historical old street is recreated here with shops that you can look into and see related parts of Jordan's collection.
These music "boxes" come in all sizes and are found all over the attraction.
Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
"Streets of Yesterday," House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
"Streets of Yesterday," House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
One of Jordan's largest and most impressive and bizarre collections covers room-sized, animated, music boxes.
Here you can put tokens in the machines and sit down and listen to and watch animated instruments and figures.
House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Music room, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Music room, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Music room, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
In "Heritage of the Sea" there is everything from sextants and ship models to a larger-than-life size model of a squid trying to grasp a whale.
House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Near the end of Section 2 of the attraction is the world's largest carousel with numberless hordes of fantastic beasts...
and not a normal horse in sight. House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Carousel, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
Carousel, House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin, 2011.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised october 2020