Some things aren’t quite what they seem. Rock in the House isn’t one of them. In fact, it’s exactly as the name implies – a rock in a house. And while that may not seem like headline-making news, the boulder-embedded abode is rather interesting. Read on to learn all about this architectural anomaly. Take a look:
You’ll find Rock in the House in Fountain City, a small town in Buffalo County.
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It’s actually about 100 miles northwest of the more famous, similarly-named House on the Rock. However, aside from the near-identical monikers, the two don’t have much else in common.
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So, just how did the Rock in the House come to be? Well, it looks as if we can thank Mother Nature for one of the state’s biggest oddities.
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On April 24, 1995, seemingly out of nowhere, a 55-ton boulder rolled down a hill and crashed into the now-famous home on North Shore Drive.
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Ironically enough, the owners at the time, Maxine and Dwight Anderson, had just finished renovating the home that same month.
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Luckily, the Andersons escaped unharmed - physically, that is. The couple was understandably shaken up after the incident and decided to move soon after.
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John Burt, a local real estate investor, immediately purchased the home – boulder and all.
Cathryn/TripAdvisor
Removing the boulder wasn’t an option, as it was too costly. So, Burt decided to leave the home as is and turn it into a tourist attraction.
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The unique home hasn’t only caught the attention of tourists, though. Over the years, it’s been visited by locals, too.
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It’s also been featured in several newspapers and magazines, including People, as well as on assorted TV shows, such as The Today Show in New York.
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Though the property is open to the public, the home is un-staffed, so the attraction runs on the honor system.
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Like somewhat of a time capsule, the home remains as it was in 1995.
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A series of notes instructs visitors on notable features that shouldn’t be missed as well as where to leave the $2-admission fee.
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In addition to the notes, there are newspaper clippings, which provide info about the home as well as past Fountain City disasters, including an incident in 1901, when a boulder crashed into the house that previously stood at the site.
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Rock in the House is open seasonally, April – October. For more information, call (608) 687-6106. You can also check out the Travel Wisconsin website.
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Julie H/TripAdvisor
Katie Hole/Google
master/Google
Jessie A/Google
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Cathryn/TripAdvisor
William Walther/Google
Taryn Chester/Google
Dawn Poppenhagen/Google
Sara Neave/Google
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So, did you know about Rock in the House? Ever visited? If so, did you go inside? What did you think? Tell us in the comments section.
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Address: 440 N Shore Dr, Fountain City, WI 54629, USA
