I finally visited the Petersen Rock Garden, and it was absolutely delightful! I grew up in Eugene, but somehow never made it there before now. I have photos of my grandparents and mom there in the 1950's. I was thrilled to hear it has been acquired by folks seeking to preserve it and realize it's potential for a community space. I was surprised at how many structures there were around the entirety of the property, and the scale of many were larger than I'd imagined. You can see where part of some structures (and the water features) are obviously still undergoing or waiting for restoration, but I was actually impressed by the conditions having read of it's previous neglect and decline. I spoke at length with one of the guys who is working there, and it seems obvious that it is in good hands. I happily bought a t-shirt at their gift shop, which is located inside the old diner they have been working on restoring. He said that the museum had just finished being restored and would be opening in a couple weeks. Eventually, they envision hosting a community garden and events. I didn't even mention...they have peacocks! You can see them lounging about the property. I have a bit of a soft spot for these quirky roadside attractions like this, or the Prehistoric Gardens, or Enchanted Forest. These are little treasures built by artistic individualists simply for the love of the creative process itself. They've provided delight for generations of Oregonians, and I'm thankful to see people step up to preserve it. It's a $10 suggested donation on the honor system, but you can always donate more if you enjoy your experience! Or buy a t-shirt. read more

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What was going to be a quick stop to check out a quirky roadside attraction turned in to a lovely afternoon at this beautiful location. We stopped here on a weekday and we're surprised at how many people were visiting. The parking area was packed but there were still some spaces for us. Once we got out and started looking around, I realized why there were so many visitors. This is a truly magical place that a lot of thought has been put into and you can wander here for hours finding new and unique things. It's very dog friendly and we brought our pup everywhere with us. We explored the grounds for over an hour and then enjoyed a picnic lunch at one of the shaded tables while we watched the peacocks wander and children play on some of the people friendly sculptures. The sculptures are unique and created with love. They are made from a wide range of different materials so there are lots of different textures and colors. And every time you think you've seen them all, you find more things to look at. I think one of my favorite things was a little shack kind of out in the very corner that has been set aside for visitors to write their dreams on... I spent a long time in there reading what people had written and imagining who they were and where they came from. It made me cry. We made sure to buy some items from the gift shop and leave more than the suggested donation, but I love that you can come here even if you don't have much and just enjoy the space without any demands on you. I highly recommend stopping by here and donating generously if the mood moves you to keep this place open and available for the world to see. read more

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This is an amazing place to visit I really liked to see the peacocks and birds around the garden and the rock buildings looked incredible and was fun to photograph anyone in the area should go! read more

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My wife had been here when she was a kid, back in its heyday. Since those days the place has deteriorated and gone through owner changes. The new owner is trying to restore the property, but it is all on volunteer time and donations. While it is not amazing, it is certainly fascinating to see the creativity of the original owner of the property and the imagination. It is worth a quick stop to check it out and step into their gift shop just to see a bit of history. read more

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The new owners have done an AMAZING job rehabbing this place. It's super fun and really coming along well. The museum/rock shop has some beauuuuuutifil specimens and the caretaker is knowledgeable and friendly. We came here after randomly finding it on the map and definitely recommend to everyone to stop by. Whatever the place looked like in the previous bad reviews is no longer the case. This is wonderful. read more

Petersen Rock Garden & Museum - Museums Near Me - Redmond, Oregon

We visited the gardens in the early 90's and loved it. So full of imagination, talent and knowledge. Just a few years ago we went by again and were so saddened at the state of the gardens. Just visited today with my grandsons and we had a wonderful time!!! The gardens are being restored to the original splendor with love and care. My grandsons were welcomed and patient education provided by staff for all of us. Treat yourself to a special venue and Im sure it will enrich and entertain any and all. THANK YOU PETERSON ROCK OWNER AND STAFF. read more

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It was an amazing place to visit and learn so many new facts about the area and the persistence and patience of an entire family to preserve artifacts and knowledge to future generations. read more

I can't even express how much I love this place! It was closed when we arrived, but the caretaker was so kind and still allowed us to walk around outside. It is so much bigger than I imagined! It's definitely worth stopping by and walking the trails. Every stone is carefully placed, making it absolutely beautiful. I can imagine how much the designer must have loved life, been full of imagination, and had incredible creativity. There were so many peacocks, and watching them stroll around and display their feathers was such a delight. read more

What a weird, delightful, unexpected gem. We expected to see one small house made out of rocks. Rather, there are multiple rock structures, peacocks roaming the premises, a rock gift shop, and a friendly orange cat who likes to visit. Everything was lovely and made for a good stop after a long road trip. Don't take it too seriously, just enjoy what's around you. Also, it's a $5 cost to enjoy this wonderful work of art which seemed more than fair considering my partner and I will recall these unique memories for long into the future. read more

The property is run down but go with an open mind. If you're a rock person you'll enjoy the rock work and time it took to create these wonderful works of art. The property has so much potential. I wish it was properly kept up. The museum was not opened when we went. I enjoyed it but don't be surprised by the unkept property. Like I said keep an open mind! read more

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I was going to give Petersen Rock Garden 4 stars because it's very... eerie, but that shouldn't stop the last star. I went on a gloomy fall day, with no one around. I almost enjoyed it more being by myself (honestly, I was waiting for a guy with a chainsaw to come out and start chasing after me). But on a more serious note, these rock structures are truly, unbelievably AWESOME, like woah. The time and thought it took to make them all is fascinating. I tried to go into the gift shop, but it was locked. I believe the owner lived on property, but I didn't want to bother. There were a few friendly cats around, and lots of peacocks and chickens, too- watch where you step cause there'll be poop! This place is kind of in the middle of nowhere in Redmond, OR (15 min or so from Eagle Crest). There is a $5 entrance fee that is kindly asked. I do highly recommend this place because it's one of those cool 'on the side of the road' spot! read more

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At first glance, I felt like I was enabling someone's addiction. In the old days, I think the word was eccentric. But after touring the property and learning a little more about Rasmus Petersen, farmer and artist, I think this place is 'unique' and worth a visit if you're in the Bend/Redmond area. The sculptures were created in the 1930s and 40s and there are obvious signs of decay. Many of the structures seem a little worse for wear with signs almost unreadable after baking in the Central Oregon sun for decades. But, there is also a lushness and beauty. I was surprised by the lovely rock bridges over the lily ponds bursting with pink flowers in bloom. Make sure you walk all around the property, since some of the largest ponds are on the right side of the driveway as you enter, which is on the opposite side of the property from where you park. The museum is an odd collection of rocks and artifacts and they have a small black-light room. You can also purchase ice cream sandwiches for a little treat to beat the heat. But the museum was the least interesting part of our visit. This place is a tribute to one man's vision and it is impressive what hard work and dedication can produce. My son enjoyed the flock of peacocks and peahens, especially when two of the peacocks were bickering and it was a glorious, and loud, sight to behold. Make sure you leave your donation in the honor box and don't forget to make a wish and toss a coin in the fountain. And don't stand between two peacocks. Lesson learned. read more

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Very cool! There's a small box for donations. We wandered around for a while watching the peacocks and admiring the mastery of the rocks. It's so impressive! The story posted is very interesting too. Unfortunately the museum was closed but it was definitely worth the stop. read more

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In an effort to get out of the house after this quarantine has started to lift, we took a drive from the Portland area to Bend and Redmond. Our first stop was Petersen Rock Garden in Redmond, which we'd never visited before. As we drove up to the property, I couldn't believe all those peacocks were really out just roaming around! Some people had commented on Google that they thought this place has gone into disrepair, but that couldn't have been further from the truth! It was SO cool, creative, and unique! The fact that it had aged just added to the charm. A little-known roadside attraction, it is truly the gem of Central Oregon! read more

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Really beautiful and amazing place. Seeing all the different Rocks. Also just knowing how old this is.

I guess this place is just not my cup of tea.. I was extremely unimpressed with my visit- please note it was a few years ago hence the 3 star rating as I hear it has been cleaned up some- otherwise I would have given it a 1 star. I honestly don't want to go back and check it out. Don't get me wrong the works of art that are here are quite interesting. The use of stones and other materials are creative. Overall I felt as though I was visiting a run down mini golf course minus the mini golf. When I visited you could tell some part of the family was living there- there was rusted junk and garbage items scattered around the property on the lawns ( baby strollers, chairs, boxes, various metal things, etc.) there was also a horse that looked like it was on deaths door step or suffering from something weird that would slowly trudge around the property and parking lot. It did not look well at all :( There are a good amount of peacocks on the property- but don't you dare touch the fallen feathers! They put those in the gift shop for a price gouging rate! They had a donation box for the museum entry fee- I felt weird putting money in it at the time- I felt like I was paying part of someone's rent- not for museum upkeep. Overall the place really had a creepy vibe going at the time I went- I hope it has been cleaned up as you can tell the property has tons of potential. I wouldn't say don't go, but I feel you can find a lot of other free and beautiful things to see in the Redmond -Bend area. I don't know if kids would like this?? read more

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It was great to see the statues, but sad to see that the area has fallen into disrepair. There were spots where someone was working on repairs but overall a little sad. The peacocks and chickens were fun though. read more

We've been there multiple times and it used be well kept. It is sad to now see it falling apart. We wonder why this historical place is now so neglected. Hopefully, it can be restored and bring joy to visitors. read more

Petersen Rock Garden&Museum is an eccentric attraction in Central Oregon. Roadside attractions like this are a rarity- a hardy few have survived like Enchanted Forest in Salem, and the Oregon Vortex in Gold Hill. The Petersen Rock Garden has replicas of the Statue of Liberty, the American flag, churches, cottages. The creator, Danish immigrant Rasmus Petersen, used the volcanic rocks he found in the area. Recently, the Petersen Rock Garden was lovingly restored and on October 30th of this year it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This quirky, lovable place is now preserved. It's a fun place for the whole family. read more

What an awesome place this "used" to be. If you want to stroll through and see some peacocks, see what a man put his heart into, it's still worth seeing. It's going to break your heart though!!! How anyone could let a family members work of love go to ruin is just awful. It's too bad there isn't a way a "historical society " couldn't step in and prevent further ruin. What a waste read more

We Loved this place. I just wish the owners could do a little work on upkeep. The history is very interesting.

This is such a great place! It's simply something that should be seen. The creator built all this stuff by himself, day after day, year after year. It shows such great creativity and a blend of humor. Really makes you wonder when he had time to work for his living. The peacocks just add to the atmosphere, stalking around watching you as much as you watch them. Definitely was not a boring tourist draw the last time I was there. I took my daughter several times when we were in the area. Awesome place. read more

It's truly amazing place to see the man that put all this together is amazing I really wish it wasn't falling apart :( and wish it got more recognition like it deserves read more

I always bring my out-of-town visitors here!! It's very quirky and unusual! The large rock, shell and glass structures are so cool! It's fun to walk around, and on, (some) the structures. Stroll at your own pace and check out the little lake across the driveway. Picnic tables available. Peacocks roam the grounds, but seldom come near people. Restrooms are in an outbuilding in the parking lot. Various rocks are available for purchase inside the souvenir shop, as well as a large display of collected rock samples. One of the funniest things about this neat place is the glow in the dark room inside the shop. Check it out if you have little kids with you. Fees are suggested and collected in a cash box mounted near the grass next to the parking lot. read more

Exploring the few winter activities in the Bend, OR area that don't involve hiking or skiing, we wended our way through the byways to find this charming place. The kids loved it. The adults marveled. The stone creations are amazing. The peacocks are moderately friendly. Okay, the museum was closed and restrooms are far away. The winter snow hid most of the 'creepy' stuff other of other reviewers. The stone garden is extensive and there's no map, so you may miss something if you don't fully explore. No one was around, except the family that shooed us away from their dogs. We liked it, and we're glad we went. But it is decidedly self-serve, and may not be for everyone. Frankly, part of the charm was driving through the area to see the horses and llamas other delights. read more

I cannot wait to go back. I want to see more! Geology lovers must see! Quirky, Alice in Wonderland - surreal...history pauses here for an alternative and magical stop. read more

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Visited this garden/museum on 6/17/14, what a wonderful place to witness one person's passion for creating a world out of rocks. At first glance, you would not think much of it but as you walk around and see the castles, bridges, and various objects made from nothing but rocks, you are fascinated by these works of art. Great place for a day trip to relax and take lots of pictures. We spent a couple if hours out there walking the grounds and visiting the museum. I would recommend this jewel to anyone passing through as well as to locals. read more

I first visited in 2004 and it was very cool. I've since moved to the area and actually live very close by (I walk past it almost every morning). The original owner is long gone and this place is a shell of its former self. Too bad. read more

Petersen Rock Garden is still a magical place even though it needs a little TLC it's definitely worth the drive to the country read more

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Perhaps we were there too early in the season? I went here with my parents who had visited when they were children. My mother commented many times about how they'd allowed the place to basically fall apart. In fact, the only thing that looked like it had been kept up were the ticket price signs and cashboxes. The museum said it was open, lights and music were on but the door was locked. We never saw anyone else there. I couldn't recommend this place until they put a little elbow grease into the displays. But, I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that They just haven't started their spring cleaning. read more

My dad was a salesman the first few years of my life. He traveled all over Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, and he often found interesting and oddball things that he kept in mind to share with my brother, mom, and I when we could travel with him (before kindergarten and later during summer vacations). One of these places was Petersen Rock Garden & Museum. It's hard to describe. I guess the Disneyland of rock gardens. It could also be seen as the product of a fevered imagination or somebody obsessed. I think I prefer what Bobbi S. described in her review "one person's passion for creating a world of rocks." There's a bit of everything (patriotic themes (the Statue of Liberty) in rocks, fairytale themes (fairyland castles), Japanese (water-themed with koi in ponds), and if memory serves the White House. When I first saw the gardens many years ago, they were still in excellent shape and continue to shine in my mind that way even now because I was entranced with them (fairytale lover here), and I adored little secret worlds. I wish there were some pictures that others had posted; mine are not to be found either to scan or upload. I think I also believed we arrived on magic carpets and on and on. I don't know if my dad was influenced by these rock gardens, but I suspect he might have been. Unfortunately, he's not here to ask. Over the years in two different yards he built and then rebuilt with the same rocks terraced gardens with some gorgeous specimens he had collected over time. When he finally moved after my mom died, my brother helped him take apart the terraced gardens and kept several of the best rocks for his own backyard "redo" and gave the rest to cousins who had fond memories of him. That comforts me to know that they still exist in someone's yard. He loved yardwork dearly and always tried to teach my brother about his love of yardwork. My brother caught that bug; I never did. A friend and I visited not long ago. We did not arrive on a magic carpet, but down a long dusty road what seems now quite a bit out between Bend and Redmond (memory not serving well with directions ever). Parking seems to me to have been a field with a lock box where you could drop off cash for donation to keep the place going and groomed. It's still beautiful if a bit rough around the edges, but I was able to still see the beauty of it and the amount of love put into it. I do want to go back and visit maybe this next spring or summer and see how things look. It makes me very glad to have found this listing so I could post my memories and thoughts and a bit of a tribute to my dad. read more

If Oregon's parks and recreation brass have any capacity for hipness whatsoever, Petersen Rock Garden will be a state park someday. Whereas most roadside attractions aim straight for the wallet without much regard for aesthetics, Petersen Rock Garden goes for tranquility over profit. Like LA's Watts Towers and Wisconsin's Dickeyville Grotto, the Petersen Rock Gardens showcase the concrete-and-mineral masterworks of a single untrained artist working under a spiritual mandate. Using minerals dug from Central and Eastern Oregon's volcanic soil, Rasmus Petersen began work on his garden in 1935 and kept at it until his death in 1952. That Mr. Petersen was able to complete as much as he did singlehandedly over the course of just 17 years is hard to fathom. Many of his structures are dedicated to God and country, and it is fair to guess that his drive to create sprang, at least in part, from these sources; even black-eyed skeptics like me will come away impressed by the sheer levels of faith and patriotism on display in Mr. Petersen's elaborate creations. Well-kept patches of greenery maintained by the surviving Petersens keep the area cool and pleasant and enhance the appearance of the sculptures. When the seasonal wildflowers start to bloom in early summer, the rock sculptures look as natural as if they'd been deposited there by the last Cascadian eruption. Roaming (and demonstrative!) peacocks and fancy chickens complete this folk-art pastoral, adding a touch of the Near East to a very Oregonian oasis. With most older tourist attractions I often feel the need to attach a series of dire warnings for the benefit of families with small children and high expectations, but Petersen Rock Garden is quite accessible; no climbing, no scary surprises, no need to stay against your will if you don't like it. The peacocks can be a little bold around smaller humans, but they are easy enough to avoid. If you find yourself at the helm of a hectic family road trip where expectations and tempers have run dangerously high, Petersen Rock Garden makes for one of the most peaceable rest stops in Central Oregon. read more

While visiting my mother in Oregon, we decided that we would take my daughter to this rock garden. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!!! Beyond the dirty and dilapidated once marvelous sculptures lies an air of utter CREEPINESS! Both my mother and I were so creeped out by this place, we left after 15 minutes!!!!! My daughter was saddened by the murk and filth of the swamp thing like ponds and the unhappy ducks that wanted to escape! This place has dying plants, trash along the drive way leading in and is so run down that the grandfather of the now managers is probably rolling over in his grave! It's so disappointing that my daughter just wanted to leave!!!!!! The owners sit in the so called rock museum doing NOTHING! My daughter saved her money to buy rocks and we left because of the filth,dust and utter stench of dog dermatitis that filled the place. Junk was strewn over the counters and a few baskets of rocks were for sale but unmarked in crispy old baskets!!!!!!!!! The only thing worth seeing are the beautiful peacocks that are on the grounds. So if you like peacocks, then it's worth it. The fountains were broken, and the pathways to some of the sculptures were laden in dirt and weeds. Obvious signs of hoarders live in the house on the property by seeing the garbage in the windows. DO NOT GO!!!!!!!! It's so creepy on the grounds that Stephen King would love this place for a horror movie setting. It's disgusting and we saw no future in this place...it's more than obvious that the owners do not care about it. SELL IT !!!!!! Be careful if you do decide to go...and do not let little ones go unattended! They might require a tetanus shot while wandering in the junk of nearby sheds!!!!!!! These people should feel ashamed of not up keeping one of their ancestors hard work ! DISGUSTING! read more

Agreed, this place is fascinating, but our visit was marred by an unfortunate run-in with the management. She singled us out and took away the peacock feathers that our children had gathered and insisted that we pay for them when there were no signs to that effect anywhere on the grounds. On previous visits, the feathers were free and unlimited. I'd say good for kids, except for the way the management treated ours. read more

This place was okay but I just had a unsettling feeling going thru it, that this is being run down. The only updated signs were the fee signs and the we will get you if you touch the rocks or birds. All the other signs are faded and broke. That is kinda the motif of the place. The fountains and some displays are broke. The guys running the place were not friendly at all and only sat around talking to each other, then when we went into the museum area went in to man the counter to sell us rocks, when we were not buying they acted annoyed. There is a lot of clutter and the grounds are nice but not well maintained. It is something to see but I couldn't help feeling sad that this could be a nice place if it was maintained and cared for. read more

Visited this place not that long ago. It's off the beaten path and took us awhile to locate it. Found it in the awesome book "Weird US". Basically the founder (Mr. Petersen) of this garden was a rock collector and he collected from all over the world. Then he started building sculptures and monuments out of the stones he collected. It's a great example of American folk art. There's a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, castles, bridges, fountains and urns. It's like paradise; there are wild rabbits, peacocks, and dragonflies. There are ponds, and lots of flowers! They have a store where you can purchase souvenirs, which has many different rocks and crystals on display. The couple that lives there and currently runs the place are very nice. Some of the sculptures are in miniature like dollhouses. We stopped by in July and it was very hot but we still spent 3 hours touring the property, be sure to check out both sides of the white house out front because there is more garden on each side. It was a fun an unusual spot to spend an afternoon; I would go there again! read more

The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden, Than anywhere else on Earth. This is from a sign that my grandmother bought at Petersen's in the summer of 1970. I was 12 and lucky enough to have been with my grandparents on a trip through Oregon. I remember this place and the pix posted here bring back many happy memories of the trip and our visit to the gardens. I'm going to look through my grandfathers slides and see if I can find any pix. Thank heaven for the internet. This just made my day! PS. The sign is now in my garden:) read more

Super weird and cool place, I have a passion for peacocks so having so many all over was amazing, the rock sculptures were interesting, kids loved it. read more

Thanks so much for your help and chat. My husband and I where in their a couple of weeks ago, (even though it feels like yesterday) and we talked about Petoskey stones from Michigan and I have a pug also so the Mrs. and I had a nice chat about that. I am so glad we got to see your place. I told my husband that if no one was around him that is what he would do. We never would have found a good rock hunting spot if you hadn't told us the mile marker. Someone had it rutted up pretty good but we just took it slow and it was dry so we made it. Let us know if you want us to send you some Petoskey Stones. Google them first. I think that's how it's spelled. Anyway thanks again. Howard and Brenda read more

Always a good place to spend some time going to or coming from the Redmond airport. They have spruced up the place and the water features are full right now. Seeing the peacocks, ducks and chickens wandering about the place is fun especially when there are little ones shuffling about. Go into the shop to see some quality geological pieces for sale. read more