Explore House on the Rock: An Eccentric Wisconsin House that Defies Categorization

House on the Rock may be a popular destination for residents of the Midwest in search of an interesting day trip, but the Spring Green, Wisconsin estate is largely unknown to the rest of the world. House on the Rock is an eccentric compound that started out as the dream home of Alex Jordan. Jordan was a fan of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and built a sprawling house that loosely mimicked Frank Lloyd Wright’s style atop a 60-foot high rock known as Deer Shelter Rock.

Alex Jordan constructed House on the Rock in the 1940s. As Jordan expanded his home and began to fill every inch of free space with curiosities such as neon signs, animatronic fiddle-playing bears, and glittering red lanterns, visitors began to show up at House on the Rock requesting tours. In 1960, Alex Jordan opened his palace of oddities to the public.

House on the Rock truly defies categorization. House on the Rock does not have a unifying theme—instead, the estate is a collection of eccentric exhibits including a Japanese garden, a narrow Infinity Room that has a glass floor and over 3,000 windows, and a giant carousel that features over 250 fierce dragons, tigers, and zebras. Authentic antiques and oddities are on display alongside fabricated pieces, and it is often hard to tell the difference between the two.

One of House on the Rock‘s most popular exhibits is The Heritage of the Sea, which features an enormous likeness of a whale-like creature and a kraken battling on a stormy sea with a guitar and keyboard inexplicably stationed on the ocean floor. Visitors can listen to “Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles as they view hundreds of model ships, including a recreation of the Titanic and the iceberg that sunk it.

It is best to arrive early to fully explore the intricacies of House on the Rock. If you want to see every animatronic tarot reader, laughing stone Buddha, and miniature circus tent, the House on the Rock website recommends that you allot at least 3 hours to explore the grounds. The adjacent House on the Rock Resort features a golf course and comfortable accommodations that enable guests to explore House on the Rock for multiple days.

If you’re a fan of Meow Wolf’s colorful, mind-bending art installations, exploring House on the Rock’s eccentric rooms is an absolute must. Alex Jordan constructed an ever-evolving creative vortex before it was fashionable.

Address:
The House on the Rock
5754 State Road 23
Spring Green, Wisconsin, 53588
United States