| The House on the Rock has
been called the eighth wonder of the world. It is about 40 miles west of
Madison in southern Wisconsin. For over 60 years it has been a work in
progress that began as a dream retreat for visionary architect and collector
Alex Jordan who died in 1989. We stayed at Spring Green about 10 miles to
the north and we drove down on two successive days. There are three tours
for the total admission charge of $53. Each took us 3-4 hours. |  |
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The first clues to the eclectic nature of this place and its collections are
these huge planters which we are filled with flowers in the season. It is
still a bit early for bedding plants here. This one must be at least 18 feet
high. |
| This is the main entrance
which is the latest addition in a major program of new developments. A
remodelling project (the first in the almost 50 year history of the
attraction) started in 2007 with this centre, new ramps and walkways joining
the other structures, and a Japanese garden. Phase II (2008/9) includes a
new garden, a centre covering the history of the founder, Alex Jordan, an
Asian garden and a pavilion for a collection of rare and fragile plants |  |
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Phase III will include a major new 'project' yet to be announced and a new
food and retail plaza which is scheduled to open in 2010 (50th Anniversary).
The house sits on top of a 60 ft chimney of rock called Deer Shelter Rock.
It was built in the 1940s as a retreat but he never really used it as a
home. It was opened to the public in 1960. |
| One of the most unique
features is the 'Infinity' room which projects 218ft over the Wyoming
Valley and 156ft above it. |  |
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It is not easy to get a true vision of this room from anywhere on site. This
was taken from the refreshment area at 'Inspiration Point'. |
| Another view showing
where the cantilevered room attaches to the main house (counterbalanced by
150 tons of concrete!). |  |
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This is the Japanese garden, complete with bridge, waterfall and koi pond. |
| There are many features
which make this very typically Japanese. There are also a many oriental
artefacts in the collections inside. |  |
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The new walkways connecting the buildings are all covered with wooden shakes
and enable people to be routed on the various tours. We were grateful for
the cover when it started snowing, but the wind still whipped through. |
| The waterwheel at the
Mill House (start of tour 2) is new this year. I don't think it serves any
practical purpose but is as illogical in being here as everything else is. |  |
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I don't know if these statues pointing the way are a recent innovation or if
someone recently bought a job lot of Dumbledores. |
| All the tables and the
walls at the refreshment area on tour 3 are covered in sayings by notable
worthies such as Einstein. Whatever else you might think of Alex Jordan, he
has not collected items because he thought they should be restored and
preserved. His collections are presented as 'works of art' in their own
right. |  |
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Now I don't make a habit of visiting the Ladies' toilets but I was invited
to photograph this one which is decorated in a truly imaginative and
colourful way. |
| Not that I would
necessarily subscribe to the style chosen, but it does have a 'wow' factor... |  |
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Oh that all the toilets we patronise were decorated and kept as beautiful as
these! |
| And just in case you
thought it was just the ladies, the gents was very similar if a little more
rugged and decorated with stuffed wild animals. |  |
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Finally, in covering the environment, I must mention that most of the
woodwork has been given a 'hand worked' and 'distressed' look to make the
place look more homely. It is obviously machine made because it is so even
in its unevenness. So to the collections! |
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