The House on the Rock

Today was my second visit to House on the Rock. The last time was when I was ten. It was still as cool as I remembered as a kid. Both of my kids had a great time and were fascinated with all the unique exhibits. The whale room, infinity room, and the carousel were our favorites. The only thing that was disappointing was the price. It was roughly $120 for two adults and two kids to get in. I know that place has to be a monster to maintain, but it definitely needs some maintenance and dusting more often. I still give it a 5 star because it was so nostalgic and a super unique attraction.

This place has been on my bucket list for 10+ years, and I'm so glad I was finally able to get here! First of all, what a unique area of Wisconsin. Lush green areas and not too far from here Frank Lloyd Wright has a visitor center as well, this must be a place that inspires creativity and expansive engineering to do something new and different. I was most captivated by integrating nature with the structure. The first two thirds of the tour were absolutely fascinating and it left me with a lot of questions about Alex Jordan, the thought process behind this and also the ambition one must have to accomplish this endeavor. The last thirds is a lot to take in just due to the shear amount of things. It did seem that maybe that I am not alone as there are ways to leave the tour prior to the end. I am really glad I finished the tour but if I were to do this again, I would probably spend more time in the nature & design areas and less time with all the niche things. If you have allergies like me, it is worthwhile to be prepared with any medications or support for your body as it is very dusty and has unique scents throughout the experience. I am extra sensitive to scents and dusts, so if you're a normal person, you may not even notice! Glad that this it available to explore and definitely worth checking out at least once in your lifetime! The tokens were worthwhile to do little silly music or fortune telling/palm reading/hand measurement/humor scales. We did the 15 tokens for $5 and it was about what we needed to share between two people.

Absolutely stunning and incredible house. Each room has its own charm and unique. Very impressive and impossible to describe. This should be experienced in person! Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours exploring the house.

Absolutely Amazing.. I can’t even begin to describe this place. So much amazing stuff to see the displays are incredible. You can’t really understand from pics or reviews you just have to go and see it. They said it takes 4 hours to see and I thought I’m pretty quick and I’d be through in an hour or so but it definitely takes 3-4 hours to see. Loved every minute of it. We did a lot of activities on this trip but this was the high light.. highly recommend

Words really can't describe The House on the Rock except maybe... eccentric, oddities, eclectic, unique, one of a kind, priceless and decent into madness. I absolutely loved it and I've never seen anything like this in my life. It started out small and the more you walk the bigger things get. I think we walked around for about 4 hours or longer and still didn't see everything. I would love to come back and see it all again. Definitely wear some good walking shoes if you plan to visit. Have a great day.

One of the most fascinating and unique places I have ever been in my life. It is an absolute must do. Give yourself at least 5 hours to explore everything. I would also recommend going in with as little “spoilers” as possible!! I went in with hardly any idea what to expect, and I can’t even count the amount of times I audibly gasped as I turned a corner. So much beauty, magic, and laughter all in one location. Worth every penny, worth the adventure out of Chicago if that’s where you are visiting or coming from. I also highly recommend staying at the nearby house on the rock resort, it’s so close and after a long day of exploring it’s nice to go sit in the hot tub and sauna! You get free admission to the house with the cost of your booking! I can’t wait for the day I get to come back! I hope I can bring friends and surprise them some day.

Had a really great time here. Fair warning that it's definitely not wheelchair friendly, lots of walking and awkward steps -- Wear good shoes! A mixture of amateur museum and art gallery. Certain areas are VERY LOUD. Also, lots of areas are not well lit. A truly unique and zany place. Very glad to have visited.

Its basically a house full of interesting /old stuff ( statues, books , trinkets etc) and it has beautiful garden and landscaping. Some of the areas are kind of narrow and dark and It will require quite a bit of walking on uneven surfaces , so be prepared for that. The place has ample parking space , a small gift shop and clean washrooms. Japanese garden section is beautiful. The whole tour will take at least 2-3 hours , so consider that as well. Overall it was a pleasant experience.

This is my favorite roadside attraction of all time! I first went here as a kid on a road trip to Wisconsin. I have memories of this strange place that had collections of everything. My memories were fuzzy from the visit. I just remembered the place being very special and mysterious. I still have the book that I bought during that trip. You know how you go back to places that you visited as a kid and you feel let down and disappointed. I did not feel this way AT ALL. This place still has all the mystery, weirdness and adventure that I remembered as a kid. However, they've expanded since I was a kid and now have things like a giant whale fighting a squid that is the longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. It takes up a whole huge room! There is the world's largest indoor carousel. There is the Infinity Room. Would you like a very 70's style living room with wall to wall carpet - they have that! There are moving instruments. There is a street of yesteryear. You can spend hours here! There is so much more to this place than I've described. I think it's best to just go and be surprised. It will bring out the kid in you. That's what it does for me. I love this place!

The website and the Internet show differing opening hours and apparently you have to get here by 1 PM if you want to see all the different parts of this museum. They literally will not sell you a ticket to see all the museum areas after 1 PM. The front Desk staff was not friendly nor helpful. I'm so glad we drove halfway across the state and rushed to get here by 4 o'clock, which is when the website said we needed to get a ticket by! Just kidding, we didn't actually go in at all. What a waste of time.

My first trip here was in the beginning when you would walk up a wooden staircase and the owner would take your ticket. Decades later here I am and find the place absolutely filthy. The items are sad and dusty. The carpet is smashed and gross. Get it together HOTR. Fix this.

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.

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

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!

You may be a bit jaded. Perhaps you pride yourself on a special ability to separate kitsch from class. Succumb to no such pretensions as you ponder the inexplicable at The House on the Rock. Little makes sense here. It doesn't have to. Tucked in an obscure corner of southwest Wisconsin--better known for Frank Lloyd Wright than for the elusive Alex Jordan, the mind behind this man cave turned carnivalesque "tourist attraction"--The House on the Rock requires no explanation. Don't seek one. Keep your research to a minimum. If, somehow, you walk away unimpressed, it is your inner child, not Alex Jordan, who has disappointed you.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at The House On The Rock... Exceeded expectations. So difficult to describe, but definitely a must visit when in Wisconsin. I took my 11 year-old son and we were mesmerized the entire time... Such an eclectic and varied collection. In about 2 1/2 hours, we were able to tour about 80% of it... We skipped the last section based on personal preference. The room with the carousel was our WOW moment...

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.

Wonderful place. One of the most unique homes/ museums you could ever attend. Some many unique one of a kind things you won't find anywhere else

Three stars. This was a difficult one. We actually visited the area to see Taliesen, a Frank Lloyd Wright home. Our son said if we were in the area, we had to go to the house on the rock. The grounds are beautiful. Multiple gardens surround the home, footpaths, ponds, and much more. Therein lies the problem - much more. Alex Jordan, an architect who developed a rivalry with Wright built this home on a large rocky ledge. He worked on it for dozens of years, adding rooms, building machines, and collecting. He collected everything and was quite the engineer. He built many machines that play instruments. Some play on their own, some you need to buy coins to make work, and many are in need of repair. I found these the most interesting part of our visit. And there are rooms after rooms, after rooms filled with just about any type of collection you can imagine. There are gun rooms, decorative glass, toys, iron piggy banks, books and documents, and the list goes on. After about an hour into the walk, you get to the carousel room. In it are multiple carousels - full-sized and all working. Some are suspended from the ceiling. To steal a quote from another reviewer: "glass bottles, old medieval weapons, porcelain dolls, weird statues, guns, dollhouses, paperweights, well the list of odd stuff could go on." Leading up to the carousel room is a replica of a city street, complete with an auto collection. This is about the time we hit information overload - we felt like our brains would explode if we saw much more. There are no clear paths out so we asked one of the attendants how much further it would be. I don't know if he was telling us the truth or exaggerating, but we were told we had another mile to walk. We put our heads-down and sped up to get through. We just couldn't take anymore. I don't know how long it took, or if it was a mile or less, but we finally reached the end. One of our problems is we did not do any research on the House on the Hill, so we had no idea what we were signing up for. And, you cannot compare his work to Wright's. Frank Lloyd Wright never saw Jordan as a rival, but Jordan did see Wright that way. This house we a way to show he could build something even more magnificent. Was it more magnificent? In some ways, yes. The sheer scale of the house and property; some of the collections of antiques, and more. There is just too much of it. If you choose to go, you'll want to understand what you will see, and how long it will take. One strong suggestion, know where the emergency exits are in case you hit the overload that we did.

*cue angel choir aaaaahs* IT'S THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK, BABY! WELCOME TO THE GOAT OF ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS! I had one of the best days of my life here. Seriously. I was on a WORK TRIP and realized we were near the infamous home. I knew we had to go, but my partner (who traveled with me), was hesitant to go. He knew nothing about the attraction and BOY WAS HE SURPRISED! Every twist and turn of this magical place is so special. You can tell how much love is put into this place, not just because of the artistry, but the way the staff is. Everyone was so incredibly kind and so knowledgeable. You could spend hours in here. In fact, we did! We were genuinely sad to leave. For as much as I could sit here and tell you about The House On The Rock, you have to experience it for yourself. The pictures simply don't do it justice (I didn't even bother to try and photograph the giant whale. It is TOO magnificent!). Thanks for everything, House on the Rock!

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.

Growing up in Wisconsin, The House on The Rock is a staple. You have to go every few years. With that said, I've been going to the house on the rock for about 15 years, and I don't think it will ever be as good as it used to be. Every time I go, more things are closed, more things are broken, and the smell gets worse. I know it's such a unique niche piece of history, but it's so sad to see the orchestras and equipment more broken year over year. This was our first time bringing the kids, and they loved it, but a part of me was so sad knowing it's changed so much. With that said... you HAVE to go at least once. Maybe keep it to once so you don't ruin the memory of what this fabulous attraction means.

We camped at Governor Dodge State Park a few years back, and a tornado came through the area. Our campsite was soaked but we were okay. With a water-logged couple of tents we spent the day at The House On the Rock! This is a great collection/menagerie of the odd! If you love calliope music, this place has it all! Strange marching band uniforms on mannequins all lined up with dusty tubas and flutes, they got you covered! Painted ponies with racy ladies aboard! They got that too! Funky smells of mold and old! Check!! I appreciate the fact this museum/collection is here, but for me once is enough.

This was definitely a unique experience. I love the concept of each room on its own, but it gets very overwhelming all together. By the end, we were so freaked out that we had to literally run out. If you are the kind of person that likes unnerving or weird stuff- I would recommend visiting. If you are easily overstimulated or are scared of dolls, I would skip it.

How anyone could give this place less than 5 stars is beyond me! The best way I can describe it is, you are truly walking through the imagination of the creator of The House On the Rock! It's like being in Willy Wonka's factory minus all the candy and ompa lumpas lol There is tons of free parking and I suggest getting your tickets online to avoid lines. There are surprises around every corner and everywhere should be explored, even the bathrooms!! I don't want to spoil it, but it is absolutely an experience you should have in your life time! It gets weirder and more detailed the further you go in! There is a lunch spot with pizza, hot dogs and ice cream! I was truly overwhelmed by the history, attention or detail and wackiness that was all around in this place! They suggested at least 3 hours and my boys and I took 5 hours to see it! Very fun spot for adults and kids! Tokens are $1 for 2 tokens. I spent about $5 on tokens to make the different exhibits move/play music. This is not a place to miss!! Definitely go check it out!!

My favorite attraction in the US. Still just as magical as it was in the 80s/90s! Great for all ages but especially 7+

A neat museum located around 30 mins away from Madison. The drive here from Kenosha was a bit far but you have the opportunity to stop in Milwaukee or Madison. I opted to get the tickets online and pickup at the kiosk there which was super easy! The location itself is gorgeous surrounded by trees. There are huge flower pots all around the property. We arrived there at 2:15 PM and it was still a little busy with visitors. They suggest at least 3 hours there if you want to do the ultimate experience. I was injured so I did parts of it on crutches and others in a wheel chair. The first part is not wheelchair friendly so you have to do crutches. There are a ton of stairs and low ceilings. The rest of the museum is wheelchair accessible but parts of the ground of the museum is a brick style and is bumpy for the wheelchair. Overall it's super neat to see all the exhibitions there. They had a cool doll house one, one about the royal family tiaras, a huge carousel, etc!

I am in the process of designing a new house and decided to visit "The House on the Rock" for some architectural inspiration. There is almost no "House" to see, outside of the infinity room. What you will actually be seeing, if you go, is "The Giant Collection of Weird Knick-Knacks on the Rock". 99%+ of the things on display I wouldn't pay $1 for in a thrift store. The attraction is designed as a one-way maze. I had to ask for help to get out from one of the employees. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. It would have been less than 15 minutes, if I had followed my intuition instead the advice of a guide. Save yourself the drive & admission charge and go visit your local Goodwill store. You'll see about the same thing.

This place is awesome. So many things to see. It's like a museum that constantly surprises you. The history of this place is awesome also. Plan on spending a few hours checking everything out. So much stuff to see. It was an amazing way to spend a day!

Honestly, I really really like this place. It's full of weird exciting stuff. You wouldn't see an average place. People say that it's not really meant for kids. But my nine -year-old sister she really liked to go even if there was like a couple scary parts. I would definitely say this is a very enjoyable place, I'll be going here a second time today!!

Very trippy. It's like a hoarder house on drugs. Beware if you have allergies, bc it is very musty/stagnant.

Amazing experience to learn about the creator and original owner. It's even more jaw dropping to see what he has amassed over the years. He collects items from multiple different cultures and across all sorts of time periods. There are tokens you can purchase and use to interact with various parts of the house. I recommend purchasing tickets for all parts of the house and allocating at least 4-5 hours if you want to see everything reasonably / not rushed.

The House on the Rock was PHENOMENAL! I was skeptical about visiting because tickets were $26 per person and I wasn't sure if it was worth it, but I can assure you now, it's WELL WORTH THE PRICE! I suggest you spring for the $26 ticket to visit all 3 sections of the museum. Don't opt for the slightly cheaper tickets to only visit the first 2 sections of the house. Seriously, do ALL 3 SECTIONS!! All in all, it took us 3.5 hours to walk through the house. It's enormous!! It would have taken us longer if we took our time to see everything we wanted to see, but they close at 5pm and we had to move fairly quickly. I would recommend getting there by 2pm at the latest, but try for noon. This place is hard to describe because it's SO many things rolled into one package. It's a gorgeous enviable house initially with many interesting design/architectural features and beautiful works of art. Then, it turns into an eclectic museum of sorts that cater to all kinds of fascinations. There's a section of the museum for everyone because it's huge with a crazy range of displays. Every display is grand and kind of outdoes itself! You really have to go visit it yourself to understand it. My words aren't doing it justice, but this may be one of the most fun attractions I have ever visited in my life!!!

I love this place. Enough said. However, some might want a bit more. It's like Disneyland for adults! Everything tops itself until the piece de resistance - the carousel! Wow. I love everything about that room. I made my husband stay in there for at least a half hour. The dolls are creepy, the circus miniatures are a little much, and everything is just as it should be! The red room is to die for with its chandeliers and pipe organs. The play pieces like the Mikado are so amazing. I loved the cantilevered part of the building (my husband did not - it moves). I am so enchanted by this place. Go if you get a chance!

What a crazy, cool, mental, wild ride! House on the Rock basically defies description...you just HAVE to experience it. House on the Rock is actually two attractions under one umbrella. The first being the quirky, cozy, cottage-core goals actual HOUSE that Alex Jordan built up and around a rock formation in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Gorgeous gardens, an introductory museum and information area precedes the house. The star of the show is the famous Infinity Room, which is not for the faint of heart or stomach...but remains really cool. But don't breeze past the rest of the house! Warm and inviting, dark corners and gorgeous views out of engineered windows, low and custom-built furniture with heaps of cushions, and shelves and display areas positively stuffed with items to see! It is a feast for the eyes. I eternally wish I could move in and live here forever. But lest you find that too boring or not worth your time....JUST YOU WAIT. After a jaunt around the house, you enter in the collection and capital-A Attraction part of the spot. A museum without a singular focus...an amusement park with "do not touch" signs. It is...overwhelming! Room after room of Alex Jordan's collected items including circus related things, historical aviation things, nautical stuff, dolls, and room-sized pneumatic music-making machines! It is...insanity. In the middle of it, THANK GOODNESS, is a crappy little restaurant (it might be better at busier times or pre-Covid...I dunno...) for some sustenance and a quick sit-down. They had cooked frozen pizza, hot dogs, soda and chips...nothing special or notable, just something to get you through the rest of the collections! Really, there aren't words for it. It is massive and overwhelming and dazzling and just incredible. 110% worth your time and the price and the drive to Middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin.

This tourist attraction just reiterates why I'm a minimalist. Wow. Just wow. My husband and I were on a trip headed to Door County for the weekend. We made a little pit stop to see THOTR. According to the website we were to purchase our tickets online and then show the confirmation # to an employee working at the main entrance. It was here that she printed us a paper 'pass' of sorts that we did have to show one time during the course of the tour. We arrived around 12:15pm and were done around 3:15pm on a Thursday afternoon. Not too many other guests around. We hoofed it. If you want to meticulously look at every single thing you'd be here for a month. I don't recommend that, either. We were able to see all 3 'sections' including the carousel and organ room. Those, in addition to the Infinity Room and ship/ocean themed room were the most memorable for me. Ultimately I'm glad I got to see this spectacle in person. The $25 ticket price was nominal in my opinion. Once you see this place in person you have to imagine how in the world they can afford to maintain everything. Bring your $1 bills for tokens. Most of the animatronics require tokens and regular quarters won't work. THOTR is REALLY missing the mark when it comes to their cafe. The cafe was not even mediocre. We were starving come 1pm. My husband snagged the last piece of sausage pizza that was under one of the heat lamps. There were some hot dogs, basic nachos, $4 for a fruit cup or yogurt. Pizza was actually pretty decent, but the woman working behind the counter didn't offer to bake another one or ask us if we wanted her to. That would have been inconveniencing her, which she made pretty obvious. We were technically still eating lunch at a decent hour, so why did it look like the employee was ready to go home? She was cleaning the floors when we ordered. Guests who have been exploring the rooms for hours are hangry and don't want to walk up to a cafe that looks like it's closed up. *End rant* This tour is NOT for anyone with mobility issues. Dark, sometimes crowded spaces, uneven terrain, stairs, etc. Just know that ahead of time. Wish we had had more time at the beginning of the tour to read about the owner/founder. We didn't and very quickly breezed through most of that information. Two gift shop areas and very clean restrooms. Friendly customer service; especially from the older folks who were stationed at various entrances throughout the tour. Loved the road leading to the house. Japanese gardens are lovely, too. Recommend, but bring your own lunch/snacks.

This place is amazing all around! It is way bigger in size than I expected. There are parts of the house that go up/down stairs and loop around, making it feel as if you are entering a cave. There are also spots that are set up like a mini village inside (if you have ever been to Vegas this is like one of their huge casinos at parts with individual stores, etc. on display...they aren't selling anything in the display parts, but its all for you to look at and it is so neat)! In this house you will see lots of tiffany lamps, a gigantic carousel (not one horse on it though, to be unique), lots of self playing instruments/musical rooms, antiques from all over the world, a giant sea monster and ocean themed room, a mini inside village, classic old guns, angels, dragons, and more! In the very beginning is a museum for you to learn about the life of Alex Jordan (who designed this house). This is the only part that was added on after he passed away. Alex Jordan is very talented and had a vision. I enjoyed learning about his story. This house started out because he simply built a small shack on a rock and people kept asking him to see it. After a while, so many people kept asking him to see it that he decided to charge...and all the money he made he put back into the house. Alex Jordan had antiques/goods imported from all over the world such as the antique carvings from India or the musical instruments from the Netherlands. He has a room with self-playing instruments that he and his team programmed. I went during Christmas time and they had over 6,000 santas on display throughout the house. The third section of the house was closed during this season so I will have to go back to see the rest. The garden was also snowed over so I could not get a view of it. A few things to note: 1. They are super strict on their hours here. They closed at 5 the day we went and at 4 pm the workers were already rushing us and telling us to hurry up and the workers were turning the lights off behind us since we were the last in the room. I did not like this customer service approach but the house itself is great. 2. Some of the older rooms are stuffier/colder/and for those having allergies or asthma may be a problem so be prepared. There are plenty of exit routes throughout though. If you go in the winter, dress warmly. 3. There is a gift shop at the very end. 4. They want everyone out of their parking lot at the time they close, not out of the museum at that closing time. 5. If you really like to take your time and look around, plan at least a half day here to see parts 1 and 2 of the house. If you plan to see the whole thing, I recommend coming when they open so you can enjoy it and not be rushed. 6. Buy your tickets online as they are a bit cheaper on their website than onsite. 7. Bring a water bottle as there are drinking fountains throughout you can refill it with. Possibly bring some snacks, too if you tend to get hungry as you can enjoy these outside.

Scary pretty much sums it up It probably was really happening in the 70's and 80's but not so much anymore it needs a major overhaul and a lot of money

This place is absolutely, positively enormous. Not only do you wind your way through the original house and gardens (which are impressive) but you then head into 2 additional buildings that house the collections of the owner. Very impressive, and only reason for 4 stars is because once you start, there really isn't a good way to stop or leave without going through the whole thing. If you have any mobility concerns at all I would highly recommend a wheelchair or scooter. While there are lots of benches to stop and rest, it is a lot of walking.

My parents went to the house on the rock many years ago and really thought it was amazing. I planned a trip to Milwaukee and thought I would add this on at the beginning even though it was two hours out of the way. I can't say I would ever go back. Although amazing, and weird, and unbelievable, after feeling trapped for over two hours it started to feel like we were in an escape room trying to find the end or escape door. The house itself was interesting, the carousel and hundreds of horses were cool. Some of the collections were neat, some odd and others very creepy. Two days later my legs and knees still are sore. Too much, took way too long to get through, felt like i was in an underground cave for hours without daylight. I can't say I hated it, but I can't say I loved it.

I had a wonderful time with my boyfriend here on May 31st. The place is huge and there's tons of unique, wacky, beautiful, creepy, interesting, and authentic things to discover! It's a fun little adventure that took us about three hours to get through, so I really appreciated the chairs and benches located throughout the facility because it makes the trek easier for those of us who may have mobility issues. Although there were several memorable exhibits, I've always loved doll houses and tiny figurines so my favorite part was the miniature displays! I could spend hours looking inside the houses or admiring the craftsmanship of the towns and never get bored. There was, however, only one person working in the food shop (who was busy making a pizza while a line forming, so we couldn't even order a drink) and the gift store was closed, which was a bummer. I love that HOTR is very honest when it comes to information about the experience. They openly state that people who have Acrophobia or Claustrophobia may struggle with some areas and that people who are in a wheelchair will not be able to access some exhibits. If you're planning a visit, here's some tips: 01. Don't bother spending money on tokens because it's really not worth it. The majority of interactive exhibits play music (which is sometimes out of tune) though some of them make a doll move (but it's repeating the same action, such as turning its head or popping out of bed) and there's a few that don't even work. On top of it, they're always busy which means you can watch or listen to an exhibit when someone else puts a token in. 02. Wear comfy sneakers! This is not the place for high heels or sandals unless you have toes of steel. There's lots of walking, stairs, ramps, and uneven terrain so there's always a possibility of it causing sore and achy feet. 03. Even if you don't have to potty, go to the bathrooms anyway because they're decorated and have displays! 04. Bring a water bottle! It takes hours to get through everything and, as stated previously, you may not be able to order a drink but they do have several water fountains conveniently located along the tour so you can quench your thirst or refill a bottle.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm still reeling from this adventure. So much to see. So much to listen too. So much to still mentally process. We spent five hours on this wonderfully mad adventure through the passion and artistic creativity of a driven man. Expect uneven surfaces and stairs. We walked well over two miles. Low ceilings at times. Loud sounds and amazing dazzling lights. Go into this expecting to be sensory overloaded.

One of the coolest and strangest places you will ever visit. I recommend The House on the Rock to everyone I can. We've been a few times, and still I'm awestruck walking through the place. Give yourself plenty of time to check everything out. You'll find yourself distracted at almost every spot, so you can run out of time if you get there too late. I've made a video giving an idea of the place, but this only scratches the surface of The House on the Rock, and should excite you to go and experience it in person. We plan on making more of these videos on Lesser Known Adventures on YouTube. https://youtu.be/icGPcFIuggI

Okay--So have you ever watched a movie/tv show and wondered if the places were real? Yep, me too! So flashback about 2-3 years ago, and there is an episode of 'American Gods.' (NOTE: This is not a forum to discuss your disgruntles about the movie cuz my only complaint is that it was cancelled). Anyway, the episode featured this attraction. So cut to one of the best weekends I've had! This place was fantastic! We took a trip from Georgia for the sole purpose of seeing this attraction, and we were not disappointed! If you are ever in the area, go visit! It is about 3 hours, but the time passes!

This was my second time- first time visiting was over 25 years ago! Happy to share this magnificent one of a kind tourist attraction with my husband and 17 year old son. It's worth the price - they have military discounts and discounts for kids up to 17. Tons of walking on uneven ground, stairs, low ceilings, ramps, etc. I would not recommend for young children or elderly who cannot get around well. With Covid, the visitor numbers are way down. Easy to social distance, masks are required and available for purchase. My only negative comment is because I've visited before and was looking forward to showing my family the boat in the whale's mouth. We climbed all the way up only to be stopped by a barrier and couldn't see it. Also, I didn't remember this from my previous visit- there is a place to get pizza and ice cream about half way through. And you'll want to get some extra tokens as what they give you are not enough to see all of the displays "play " that you'll want to see. You can get these along the way if you run out. And the first part of the tour tells you all about the house and the history, after you go through this there are not many explanations of what you are looking at.

Architectural Marvel If you plan on visiting The House on the Rock, here is what you need to know: The House on the Rock was built in the 1950s by architect Alex Jordan. I state that up-front because it is often confused with Frank Lloyd Wright, another famous architect who has a famous property just miles from Alex Jordan's home. The Frank Lloyd Wright property is called Taliesin and is not the same house; however, it seems Alex Jordan was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's style and fame. From my perspective, the House on the Rock does have some amazing architectural features that does make it worth checking out. Not only is the house built into rocks and wilderness, the section of the house pointing outward uses a technique called cantilever which allows the pointed area to stand up without support directly below it as you walk through the house, and keep in mind it was from the 1950s and 60s, you realize no expense was spared. What might look old now would have been top-of-the-line back then... Perhaps what people would have considered state-of-the-art or even futuristic. This is what makes it worth visiting. The house is in Spring Green Wisconsin, which is really out in the middle of nowhere. There's not much around even these days, but probably would have been desolate in the 60s. That said, you will most likely drive hours just to get here, so you better make sure it is truly worth it. That said I'm going to tell you the negatives, as you may want to consider not coming. Yes, I'm giving 5 stars because I feel it is amazing, but you will probably only come here once in your life, and not want to ever come back. They say the tour is 2-3 hours, but it really is 5-6 hours, unless you hurry through. Outside of the house itself, everything else is inside a warehouse. They may call it a garage, but it's really a huge warehouse. Why is it a warehouse? It's a building stuffed to every corner with JUNK. That's right, it's mostly junk. Some of it is very expensive, but it is all the stuff Alex Jordan hoarded over his life I won't go into details of Alex Jordan's life, but it seems over time he had mental issues and began to hoard anything and everything he could get his hands on. If he wasn't a hoarder, I would say he did it all to get an extra buck.... But I'll let you decide. The warehouse is full of items you may have never seen before, or they could be something you remember from childhood that brings back memories. Some of the coolest stuff includes old, now collectable cars, planes, trains, and more. Some items I would say get really creepy, like clown outfits, old circus materials, and weird dolls The biggest issue I have and that you should know is poor ventilation. You may be in part of a cave, inside a warehouse, and at times under ground level, and the whole time it's hard to breathe. They do a really good job ensuring the lightbulbs are lit and the junk all continues to work, but they could really improve the airflow and air quality. For that reason, you need to plan more time for taking breaks and getting water to stay hydrated. I don't think they can air condition to cool it down, so it gets hot too. If you can, go as a big group, plan on spending 4-5 hours, bring water bottles. If you have breathing problems, bring your inhaler or oxygen.

I really don't know how to feel about this place. On one hand, it's over stimulating because there is just. so. much. stuff. On the other hand, most of what's here are mid-century replicas. I guess I wanted more crazy Victorian macabre things. The music machines are almost all out of tune and after a while, you start to go mad from the noise. It's not that well-maintained is what I'm saying. For a hoard, it's well-maintained. For a museum, less so. The Infinity Room was inaccessible when we were here. Whether COVID-related or structural was unclear. The highlight is the carousel, but it's so late in the journey that I didn't really appreciate it. Neil Gaiman's American Gods does it justice. The second highlight is probably the squid vs sperm whale in the maritime section. This installation is floor to ceiling (and that's three floors up). It's huge. The third highlight are the Japanese gardens. So soothing and beautiful with plenty of fish and frogs. Nuts and bolts: We visited on a rather cool day and we still were almost overheating in the first level. It's super warm and muggy. Had it been in the 80's or warmer, probably wouldn't have lasted very long. It's going to take you 2.5-3 hours easily. We thought we'd cruise through and do it in under 2. We were wrong. It's not even because it's super crowded, it's just that much territory to cover. Wear comfortable shoes. This is not the place to break in a new pair. The very first part is set up to give you the history of the house, the architect, and the collection. It comes across as less history and more proselytizing which was a bit of a turn off. The walls and floors are carpeted. And old, musty, dusty, so if you're asthmatic (like I am) you may want to wear a mask just to cut down that exposure. The drinking fountains are shut down due to COVID but there are Culligan water dispensaries throughout. There are plenty of restrooms and they were well-kept. There is an area for concessions. Not all of it was open when we were there but we were able to get some ice cream and bottles of water. Oh, they don't let you bring in outside water, you might be able to bring in an empty bottle. I didn't try. They didn't really check bags so brave souls may smuggle in something. There's something for everyone from models of ships to a massive collection of dueling pistols to creepy dolls to Japanese art.

It's worth the drive and admit my wife did a great job finding this it doesn't look much on the outside but once you step in you're in a different world each section has their own theme this place really impressed me I can't believed I spent 3 hours at this place word of advice save your tokens on section 2 & 3 you won't regret it

It definitely was unique however it wasn't my cup of tea! Not much to do In Madison so the house on the rock was something to do! A

They don't allow service dogs even if you have proof. I met my family from TX there (I drove 5 hours and my family drove 15 hours) and was told "we don't allow service dogs with proof"and that my niece didn't look like nothing was wrong with her. We even said they can't denied a sd but because they are on a private property they have their own rules. The old ladies were extremely rude and even after calling for a manager, she was just a rude. I don't recommend this place! No customers service at all! They need to post that they don't allow pets including sd. We ended up taking the kids in still and a few stayed back but it was dusty and dirty. Not worth the money or time. NOTHING WOW ABOUT THIS PLACE! NEVER WILL I EVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!

I gave this 3 stars because it's a weird experience. I loved the house and gardens, very cool and unique, but the other buildings....like I said....it was a unique experience.... but I will NEVER go back there again. If you love weird Victorian like animatronics and yester-year stuff and collectibles, dolls and dollhouses and miniatures, you will love it. It takes about 2 hours to get through it, and that is if you are moving fast. Some of the other reviews on here highlighted a few other exhibits. There is carpeting every where (walls,ceilings, floors) in most rooms. So it's very dusty and musty. They try to neutralize the mustiness with an air freshener that actually makes it worse. If you have allergies or asthma wear a mask. My sister was struggling by the time we finished and she has mild asthma. If you have children that are easily over stimulated this might not be the place for you. I am neither of those and even I was at my breaking point by the time we made it out of there. Lots to see and a cacophony of noise if the caliope exhibits are running...one or two are fine but room after room can be too much for someone with audio isssues. This Flickr account is spot in. https://www.flickr.com/photos/justinwkern/5878093321 The carousel is something else. I wish I had seen it earlier because I was so overwhelmed by the time I got to it I couldn't appreciate it. For older folks, you will do a lot of walking on carpet and inclines. If you tire easily there are.places to sit. But again it takes.several hours.to go through it. There are.emergency exits throughout so you might want to ask at the entrance if.there are ways to exit if you need to.

First of all, if you come here an hour and half before they close and expect to see the whole thing, you probably didn't do your research. We drove 3 hours to get here and allowed ourselves 4 hours to go through the whole thing. The ideal time frame to view everything without rushing, is coming between 9-12 p.m. Anytime after 1 p.m. well you're just blaming the attraction instead of yourselves for not getting there earlier. I only added this comment because I feel like most people will give a bad review based on their own flaws, not the attraction. I mean you don't expect to come an hour before the Mall of America closes and see the whole thing, right? Part one is pretty short, there is a little bit of a musty smell but not like overwhelming like in other reviews. I read other reviews and they tend to exaggerate a lot, mine will be accurate. There are some low ceilings as you're walking through the house, so if you're very tall you will have to duck often. I agree that the tip of the infinity room isn't stable, people were jumping and you can feel underneath that it's not very strong. However, if it lasted after all these years then you'll be fine on your visit. I recommend using some tokens to play some of the musical displays. Part two and three is where you see some of the oddities. Streets of yesterday and the heritage of the sea were my favorite. It was impressive seeing the sperm whale fighting against the giant octopus. The little cafeteria has some mediocre food, you just need something to eat until you reach the end. Don't expect to walk into some fancy dining. There's also an ice cream place. I wished some of the displays in part two and three were taken care of so that there aren't any dead ladybugs in the case. I took off one star because the whole place should be cleaned often and there should be some descriptions for a lot of the items. Part three, they have like an organ room, doll houses, circus room, Japanese garden, etc. I don't want to give out too much details because I want the next visitor to find out what's in the next area on their own.

My wife had mentioned The House on the Rock to me years ago. We had to come to Wisconsin for a wedding, so I booked a stay at the House resort, and got tickets to the House. Quirky does not begin to come close to describing this place. Eclectic doesn't work either. It is just a damn cool place. How else can you describe it? There is no rhyme or reason to the place, as a collection goes. Granted, there are themed rooms, but the sheer difference in said themes is what makes this place great. We loved the infinity room. We were able to take pics of it while it was empty, and then from the window looking down. The House should have a plaque at that point stating how many feet you are above the ground below. It appeared to be significant. Sadly, the room is blocked off at a point. I get it, but I would have gone further out. The carousel was pretty cool. Would have been better if it were able to be ridden. I really was impressed and amazed with the massive whale vs. squid sculpture. You really have to see it to believe it. The BurmaShave signs were a welcome bit of nostalgia. The guns, while many fakes, were just kind of cool. I could go on and on. On the negative, if you have foot or ankle issues, be careful. There are many ramps and stairs. There is also a lot of uneven parts of the walking tour. From the fake cobblestones, to just plain uneven brick surfaces. I was suffering from a minor foot issue, and the uneven surfaces certainly didn't help things. The exhibit is in three sections. I wasn't completely sold on the third section. Not that it wasn't beneficial. I don't think I would have thought less of the House if we would have skipped it. You exit through one of the gift shops, leaving section three. It is a rather long walk to get there. All to take another long walk to exit the entire facility through another gift shop near the entrance/exit to the House. Not quite sure why that was done that way. If you're nearby, or are going to be, stop in! It is worth the trip.

This place requires physical and mental stamina. Pace yourself. This is a tourist trap and a very enjoyable one. Constructively, I think the cafeteria should serve a better quality of food (so eat beforehand) and they could be more forthright about what is real and what isn't. Almost everything in here is fake or an illusion and that is part of the fun! Lean into it! We toured all three sections and would recommend all three, however, I would be more inclined to have seen part on one day and part on another. Simply because of the energy required to truly appreciate it all. Prepare to be dazzled.

What a magnificent find. We came here about 10 years ago before kids.. this time we brought our 6 year old and 8 year old and it felt so magical! We were lucky that they were all decorated for Christmas, Santa's everywhere. Loved the attractions that you can use tokens to start them up for action and music. We brought extra dollar bills and probably spent about $8 extra for kids to play almost all of them. We went on a Monday and it was nice and quiet. Every employee we came across was SO incredibly kind and happy to see us. My favorite part was near the end, the world's largest carousel. Walking into that room to see the lights, music and HUGE carousel almost took my breath away. Wow.... the work and time it must have taken to put all this together is just unbelievable. What a magical place.

Breathtaking....go early to give your self plenty of time to enjoy everything. So amazing and peaceful. Every room and corner has something to just blow you away. Lots of walking and steps...plenty of benches if you need to take it slower.

I first read American Gods by Neil Gaiman about 15 years ago when when I was in the Army. One of the things that stuck out to me in the book was that part that took place in the House on the Rock. The way it was described made it sound like one of the coolest, most unusual places on Earth so obviously I didn't think it was real.....until about four years ago when I passed a sign for it driving up to my parents house. Yesterday I finally got to cross it off my bucket list and I'll probably never see anything like it again. It is simply one of the most unique, astonishing places I've ever stepped foot in and a must visit if you're in the state. Once you see the sign you'll drive through dense woods until you reach the parking lot. Parking is free and there's plenty of it. You walk in the lobby and to the right is the gift shop and to the left is where you buy your tickets. The self guided tour is broken into three sections. I opted for the Ultimate Experience which gives you full access to the entire home. It was $29.95 for adults and $15.95 for kids 4-12. They also give you four tokens which can be used on the machines (music, fortune telling, entertainment) along the way. My review is already long so I'll just get into the highlights: Infinity Room. Wow. A short walk into a sort of optical illusion. Too bad you can't go all the way to the end (but there is a window so you can see how high you are). Streets of Yesteryear. It's exactly what you think. A full on street lined with shops, a fire station and even a Sheriff's office. Heritage of the Sea. When I walked in I was taken aback by the sculpture of the whale and the giant squid. Pictures do not do justice to how large it is. Incredible. The World's Largest Carousel. Amazing and the mounted animals were full of crazy details. If they charged $10-$15 a rider I'm convinced people would be all over it. I'm not even going to get into the doll house collection, gun collection, circus room, Inspiration Point or the extra stuff in the rooms I highlighted. Regarding accommodations, there is a pizza and sandwich shop at the midway point and bathrooms all along the way. Also in the first section of the house there are some points where the ceiling is a bit low so keep that in mind if you're over 6 feet tall like yours truly. Bring your walking shoes (the 3 hour plus time to get through here is a legit time) and an empty camera. I took probably 200 pictures here and I usually don't do that. If you didn't know it already I highly recommend The House on the Rock. There is absolutely nothing like it. If they film the American Gods TV show here, this place will be even more popular (I asked someone about and as of 7/18/17 no filming has been done yet). Check it out!