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    The House On the Rock

    3.9 (336 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    The House On the Rock Photos

    Recommended Reviews - The House On the Rock

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    Amber Y.

    Absolutely beautiful house! So many artifacts and so many cool things to see!!! It was honestly one of the coolest places I've seen. Infinity room was so cool to see. The architecture is amazing. I would love to go back here.

    Nergal M.

    How do I describe what this is...the House on the Rock is what happens when a rich hoarder has some knack for building and decides to build a chaotic monument to his insane collection. I say this positively. Each room of the House on the Rock has a theme and it comes at that theme full steam ahead, culminating in the (music) organ rooms and the magnificent carousel. It really isn't like anywhere else. It's an insanely over-stimulating experience and was really, really cool to see. Here's something I think is worth mentioning. A construct of this configuration is extremely difficult to clean. I cannot even imagine how you'd go about even dusting the place. Because of this, I think there is a not insignificant amount of dust and/or mildew in the air. By the end of our several hours at the House on the Rock, one asthmatic friend had a full on migraine, and the rest of us were nursing a pretty fierce headache for the rest of the day. The only person who actually came out relatively fine was wearing a mask the entire time. So, I have to recommend a face mask here unless you've somehow bypassed breathing.

    Ellena K.

    We visited for the "after dark" / Halloween experience. I had never been to house on the rock at all before this, but it was a really cool way to experience it! You can tell they put a lot of effort into the decor and planning. The scare actors also did a great job and we were definitely scared! I would say mid level scary but not extreme. When we went it was a little busy so the queue got kind of backed up. But overall it was a great way to celebrate Halloween. I will definitely be back during the day!

    Ann T.

    What an amazing house/museum! I have never seen anything like this. Alex Jordan seemed to turn wide dreams of various collections into real life displays. This place is worth the visit. However, if I ever return again, I will wear a mask to filter out the dust because some of the collections also collected significant amounts of dust.

    Selfie
    Art J.

    Well this was a bucket list coming up here on Labor Day weekend I was familiar with the house on the rock deck since 1990 when they had cheesy TV commercials on cable. So it's really a museum with a Frank Lloyd wright exterior. However it is not just a home that's supposed to be of historical significance like Frank Lloyd wright. The owner of the house on the rock he was quite an eccentric collecting a menagerie of things.His name was Alex Jordan. A Wisconsin native he was trying to build a house around this area with rocks that he brought if not stones unfortunately until the 1960s a lot of people were curious and he was getting frustrated so he decided to turn it into like a museum. He had extended it beyond trying to be like a private home with different exhibits what makes them unique or eccentric was the fact that he likes Tinkerbell or atomatron devices that played music or look like people or figures playing music and movement similar to like a cuckoo clock or a windup toy that didn't require quarts or batteries. There was a lot of interesting mix mash between Asian and some Western Catholic or not Christian figurines especially by The guest House part although I wouldn't want to live there because of the fact that despite that it looks outside frankly right inside it was very dreary and not very well lit thus the four stars. I wish if he was alive he would have displayed a lot more lighting inside otherwise it felt pretty scary despite all of those figurines that played music he did a good job about yesterday your house streets used to be but it's always pretty interesting how they always display streets with gas light or lanterns like back in the days of Jack the ripper and stuff even in America other than that I do advice to come here at least before 12:00 because it is a very big display and they close at 5:00 you will not cover a lot of the exhibits if you come in at 3:00 or 2:00 not even 1:00 in the afternoon. A little pricey at $36 and then you have to buy the tokens you could spend up the $5 for the tokens for all those automatron Tinkerbell music machines to play otherwise its just another Dusty display which I noticed another reason why I gave it four stars a bit musty and dark and dreary but this was the bucket list and I finally made it and if you're coming from Chicago I suggest leaving really early since it's a 2-hour drive

    Agustin Z.

    This is a really cool place to visit if you're on your way to Wisconsin Dells or on your way back home. The actual home built on the rock is pretty cool. The place has other rooms with various things collected. Kind of like a museum. There's also machines that play music when you put in a quarter along the path. At the end is a really nice carousel. You can't ride it, but it is nice to look at.

    Kristyn M.

    Last time I was here was when I was a kid. Not to date myself but that was probably over 30 years ago so.. in the 80's. Now as an adult we are visiting. Check the website for tickets and times. We were visiting in the winter time and they were set up for the Christmas time. This meant a part of the house was closed. You can buy your ticket online. It's not a set time. You check in when you come in the main entrance. They also let you purchase tokens that you can use through out the house. Some of the displays lost a little of the mystery as an adult but I was surprised how much seemed the same. The moment you pull onto the driveway and start to see the insane giant pottery with the lizards and dragons you know you're in for it. You start off with the history of the house. History of people involved with the house. Don't forget to get your tokens to play the different machines throughout the house. Save them for some bigger ones as you move through the house. Found a couple that aren't working anymore. Its a self guided tour. You are then lead into the original house that still stands. The ceilings are low and its a crazy set up. We decided that the owner, Alex Jordan, was eccentric. The infinity room is still the most impressive architectural piece I have ever gotten to experience and has stained with me my entire life. After the house then you move into one of the 3 other areas that house the collections. There are orchestras that still "play" on their own. It is sad that with the price to get in that some of the things are fixed or kept up more. The missing bow or arm should be something to keep the magic alive. It is huge though. There are a ton of things to see, watch, and keep you busy in this maze of wonder. Its artsy and we spent a few hours just enjoying everything. We even took a break in a little town like area for some ice cream and snacks. This place is beyond what you can ever imagine. Although I did take pictures they will never do it justice on what lives within the walls of this place. Hopefully as the years go by they can continue to work and preserving this magical place. The is endless space and endless cleaning for the staff I am sure. Since we went in the "Christmas time" there was a ton of Christmas decorations. It's not something that I would recommend. They are all gnomes, Santas, regular everyday decorations. Its just nice they go through the effort to make extra decorations. Highly recomend taking your kids once. Its one of those places that sticks with you for a life time. I am glad I came back if anything to refresh the memory of the angels and giant casserole. Go at least once.

    Some of the many stain glass lamp shades
    Kurt L.

    This was an amazing and interesting place to see. All of the people working here were amazing. My son dropped his camera lens cover off of a walkway and fell on a roof below. We told someone and 15 minutes or less they found us and handed it back to him. Awesome. Other workers told us information and talked to us about so many different things. So many beautiful items. It was warm but it was a hot day, that is something easy to get around. Plan for 3-5 hours to really see everything and take time to play with all the displays... yes some interactive displays. Something to really see. I will check this out again.

    Alvin L.

    Psychedelics are mandatory. It's weird, backroomsish, and great immersive art designed by a total nutterball.

    Shannon M.

    My boyfriend and I had both been here in the regular season before and decided to go when it was decorated for Christmas. Things to know: - The entire museum is not open at this time, just up to the carousel - Unless you are a huge Christmas fan, this is not really the time to go. The Santa collection is like stuff you see at the craft store or thrift store, nothing very unique other than the sheer volume. - Many of the smaller musical automatons were out of service or out of tune, which was disappointing, since this was one of the highlights of the visit last time. The museum is still cool, and staff were helpful , but particularly for first timers, don't go at Christmas time: wait until the whole museum is open and available for you to explore.

    Different areas have an Asian influence

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    Just so awesome love it so much to take in be sure to take lots of pictures an have money for food drinks an gift shop

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The House On the Rock

    Do they sell food?

    The cafe closed during Covid, I believe. It was closed the day we went.

    Do they accept credit cards/debit cards for entry?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The House On the Rock

    In the very beginning is a museum for you to learn about the life of Alex Jordan (who designed this house).

    Mentioned in 48 reviews

    Read more highlights

    #FYP Totally 80s

    #FYP Totally 80s

    4.8(6 reviews)
    40.5 mi

    Totally 80s! Totally fun! Went there with my son and it was a blast from the past! Lots and lots of…read morecostumes and accessories to choose from. Lots of cool scenarios to take pics! PLUS: they have tripods and selfie sticks you can use. Great location and something different to do when you're in the dells. Make sure you use coupon!

    I am very surprised that I am the first to review this place. It has been open for about a year and…read moreis awesome. It is something that is cool and different for the family to do. You can't miss it. Just look for the colorful cars standing up on end. They have a decent sized parking lot that it shares with the other business in the strip mall that it is in. I was also surprised that I did not have to have a reservation, even though I got there early. There still was not a long line or huge crowd the whole time I was there and we spent about an hour there. They do not even offer reservations either so, I do not know how they handle it if they get slammed packed. You start your journey by getting dressed in 80s gear that they provide. You could also bring your own, but they have a huge selection of pants shirts, shoes, earring headbands, sunglasses, gloves, phones, hats, sweatpants, and chains. They also have makeup for you. They provide changing rooms and lockers to lock up your clothes you wore there. I recommend getting there early to get your full pick of clothing. Once something is worn, it is out of commission for a while until it is cleaned. The staff there is so helpful and friendly they are awesome. They provide you with a tripod, which was perfect because I was able to use my Apple Watch to control my phone's shutter. They have about 20 scenes set up for you to take some photos. Some of the scenes include MTV, a big boom box, Miami Vice car, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Farris Beuler's room, Super Mario Brothers, Hulk Hogan, Back to the Future 2 hoverboard, a rubix cube, bubble gum and you start it all off with the Simpsons, which is located in the area with the clothes. The scenes are very well done. My favorite was probably the MTV, followed closely by Miami Vice and the Rubix Cube. You end your tour by exiting through a huge stack of VHS tapes which comes out in the gift shop and looks like a coke machine on that side. The gift shop has candy, drinks and 80 themed items like shirts, hats, rubix cubes, bags, lite brites and pictures. Once you hit the gift shop, don't forget to go outside and take pictures by the cars though before you turn your clothes back in. When you turn you clothes back in, you put them in a basket for cleaning and you are off. This place was very fun. My littles, who were both born in the 2010's both had a blast. You will definitely get some awesome shots. If you have an Apple Watch and iPhone, it is easy peasy. If not, you will just have to use your camera's timer or bring your own Bluetooth shutter. I highly recommend checking this place out. It puts an 80s spin on the selfie museum fad that is sweeping the country. It is a unique spot and is definitely more than worthy for a prime-time spot on your itinerary.

    Photos
    #FYP Totally 80s
    #FYP Totally 80s
    #FYP Totally 80s - Pontiacs

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    Pontiacs

    Taliesin Preservation - The living room

    Taliesin Preservation

    4.5(145 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    I planned my Frank Lloyd Wright trip to Wisconsin around visiting Taliesin and it was well worth my…read moretime. Taliesin was Wrights home for much of his life, including when he designed many of his most prominent designs. Taliesin is located in Spring Green, Wisconsin which was home to many of Wrights relatives and was where Wright spent many summers as a child. You get to understand why this location held such a strong draw for Wright. Located just across the river from Spring Green Wisconsin you check in for the tour at the Wright designed building overlooking the river that contains the gift shop and cafe. Even before getting to Taliesin itself you get to experience a wonderful Wright building that provides great views of the river, has the trademark horizontal features and a wonderful geometric ceiling. The gift shop is very nice and has a wide selection. I took the 4 hour Estate Tour which includes all of the major buildings in Taliesin. Our guide started with about 10 minutes of introduction in the gift shop. We then took a shuttle bus to the actual estate we started the tour at the house Wright designed for his sister, which was undergoing renovation; this house is fairly conventional on the outside, yet it has that Wright feel on the inside. Outside we saw the Romeo and Juliet Windmill, which has the story attached that his relatives in the area predicted it would ball over in the 1st substantial wind, yet it is still standing over 100 years after it was originally built. Next up on the tour was the Hillside Home Tour which was originally built for his aunts, but was later converted for the Taliesin Fellowship. We started in the Auditorium, which is unique, especially the way half of the audience is looking at the other members of the audience. The auditorium is still in use, including movies, concerts and lectures. Next up was the drafting room that the Fellowship used. The room is electric with a grid of beams and skylights. You can understand how the apprentices would be inspired by working in this space. We were also lucky enough to be one of the first tours to get to see the hallway and the bedrooms next to the drafting room that were used by the apprentices. We then got a nice break in the Hillside Home dining room with some wonderful light snacks. All of the dining room furniture is Wright designed and the light fixtures were not just Wright designed but then fabricated by the apprentices. A very nice way to actually experiene some of how life at Taliesin was for the apprentices. Back on the bus to take us to the Midway Barn, which provides an idea of how Taliesin was an actual working farm. Eventually some of the barn was used for housing apprentices. Wright designed the barn to emerge out of the hillside, reflecting his idea for organic architecture. We then moved on to the main buildings at the top of the hillside which were the Frank Lloyd Wright house, office and drafting room. This area has significant history both good and bad. This is where the murders and fires took place. Wright managed to rebuild and to make these spaces an amazing place to visit. We got a full tour of the house, the garden and even the kitchen building. It is amazing to see what Wright built for himself and his family. The Taliesin Estate tour is excellent, comprehensive, educational and lots of fun. Our guide was also excellent, not afraid to deal with all side of Frank Lloyd Wright, both the good and bad. He was great about explaining everything, pointing out detail and also separating facts from speculation; he even told us about having conversations with a Taliesin fellow who still lives on the property and is over 100 years old. If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan Taliesin is a must visit; I would strongly recommend the Full Estate Tour. I also found it helpful to have read several of the books on Wright and the events that have occurred at Taliesin. Even if you are not a Wright fan, this is an amazing tour and well worth visiting.

    Came and got a tour of the Taliesin house. I didn't take any photos because I didn't fully…read moreunderstand the photo policy and didn't want to risk anything. We got bussed over to the house for a tour. Our tour guide was super nice. It was super informative and the gift shop was cute as well and if I ever came back, I would want to eat at the café, but unfortunately we didn't get to this time.

    Photos
    Taliesin Preservation - Gift shop

    Gift shop

    Taliesin Preservation - Table in studio

    Table in studio

    Taliesin Preservation - It's incredible how he created built-ins everywhere out of reclaimed wood

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    It's incredible how he created built-ins everywhere out of reclaimed wood

    Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - 3 kids lifted a car!  Science at its best

    Tommy Bartlett Exploratory

    4.4(30 reviews)
    38.4 mi

    We came here while on vacation, on the last day of the year, during my kids winter break. I…read morehonestly think this place rivals bigger places like the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Although it's not huge, there are so many interesting exhibits packed into a relatively small space. We could have easily spent hours here until close but we had plans to hit the road and head back home to the Chicago area. The gentleman upfront was nice enough to only charge me for 2 adults, even though I later checked the website and saw my 5 year old normally would have been charged at a lower price. My children, ages 3 and 5, had a blast. They ran around from exhibit to exhibit. I like that each one had instructions printed to explain the illusion. If you're into outer space, space stations, etc., the second room is for you! My son and I paid the $4/ person cost to Ride in the space shuttle VR experience. It wasn't really that exciting, but my 5 year old enjoyed it. My favorite part was the 3rd exhibit. Don't forget to head upstairs as well. The Van de Graff generator (to make your hair stand up) didn't seem to work. I have a picture of myself as a child standing there, so I was pretty bummed I couldn't get one with my children. Since it was cold and snowing, we didn't experience any outdoor exhibits, but there is plenty to do inside. You do have to walk outside briefly between exhibits, so dress appropriately. Definitely would return!

    This activity was more fun than I expected and the kids didn't want to leave. It is filled with…read morelots of hands-on science experiments and before I knew it we were there for almost 2 hours. The kids would have stayed longer but we had another event scheduled so had to leave. Even the little kids will find something interesting. Even we adults learned lots of cool things. I think the ideal age is 5-10 years old but outside that range is still good too. If you are staying at a local resort ask if you can get a discount for doing so. The tickets are (as expected) not cheap but this one is worth the time and money. Be prepared to end this activity through the gift shop and brace for buying expensive souvenirs.

    Photos
    Tommy Bartlett Exploratory
    Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - Head on a platter

    Head on a platter

    Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - Rubber band art area

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    Rubber band art area

    The House On the Rock - museums - Updated June 2026

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