“with a story stranger than fiction”
Imagine the shock of having a two-story-high rock smash through your house! Maxine Anderson had just photographed the new remodeling project that had been completed in their home at 440 N Shore Drive (Hwy 35, the Great River Road), in Fountain City, Wisconsin. No sooner had she left the bedroom for the kitchen than a great thunder of increasing volume engulfed the house. Almost immediately there was a tremendous shock and the house was bolted off its foundation. No doubt terrified, Maxine would have tried to escape the home--but doors were jammed shut and she was trapped! Across the road at the Corp of Engineers Service Base, an employee, too, heard the train-like roar. A tornado, he thought in amazement as he watched trees flying from the hillside above the Anderson's home. The Anderson home seemed to take a direct hit and he flew across the street to aid whoever was inside. For both the rescuer and the housewife, the moments of breaking a way into the house were filled with fears that another huge boulder would begin making its way pell-mell down the hill. The Andersons moved out immediately, returning later only long enough to pack the rest of their belongings! John & Frances Burt of Fountain City purchased the home--with the boulder still occupying the demolished bedroom--and opened it as a tourist attraction. The city has declared it an historical site and thousands of tourists come to see the "Rock in the House" from all over the world.
Rock in the House - Fountain City, WI
A two story, 55 ton boulder fell on an old couple's house. A local real estate guy bought them out and decided to sell tickets rather than repair it. The house is open and the rooms converted into a little museum of newspaper clippings and handwritten notes. There's a rusty lockbox with a slot where you leave your $2 admission fee on the honor system.
Yes, I tried pushing it. It didn't budge.
Cool stop for what it was! Stretch, take a peek and on ya go! It's unfortunate that some people feel entitled and stole the donation box and items from the house so now you can only peek inside and check out the 55ton Boulder. Still worth the stop.
Nice little attraction. Old newspaper clippings and photos to tell you the story. Honor system with admission fee. Charming stop.
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Rock in the house
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