Skip to Main Content

Rudolph, Wisconsin: Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Address:
6975 Grotto Ave., Rudolph, WI
Directions:
Northeast side of a little town. From Hwy 34 turn east onto 2nd St. N. Cross the train tracks and you'll quickly come to the Grotto parking lot on the left.
Hours:
Wonder Cave open summer daily 10-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
715-435-3120
Admission:
Wonder Cave $2.50
RA Rates:
Major Fun
Save to My Sights

Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

Father Philip Wagner and his helper Edmund Rybicki spent 20 years piling rocks and building their version of a commercial cave inside it, filled with Catholic religious shrines.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [05/29/2016]

Visitor Tips and News About Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave.

Rudolph Grotto and Wonder Cave

My family and I decided to give this a visit during our stay near here, and were really glad we did! The dedication (and possibly mania) that went into this place is amazing. They even have a very friendly cat wandering around.

[Steve, 07/15/2019]

Rudolph Grotto.

Rudolph Grotto Gardens and Wonder Cave

I visited this a few days ago, and the extensive grounds are truly amazing. The Grotto Garden is free, but there is a $2.50/adult charge to walk through the 1/5th mile long winding path inside the Wonder Cave. Worth an hour-long visit.

[MJB, 07/07/2014]

Wonder Cave at Rudolph Grotto.

Rudolph Grotto Gardens and Wonder Cave

Rudolph Grotto Gardens and Wonder Cave is along the lines of the Dickeyville Grotto and the Grotto of the Redemption, and definitely fits into your dementia concretia category.

In 1912, Father Wagner visited the Grotto of our Lady in Lourdes, France. He prayed that should his health be restored, he promised to build a shrine in Mary's honor. In 1927, Father Wagner began building a European-style shrine in Rudolph, WI, that included acres of gardens, bridges, paths and sculptures.

Father Wagner died in 1959, but with the help of many volunteers over the years, the last project was completed in 1983. The Wonder Cave is a little cheesy, but the rest of it is really cool, interesting and impressive.

[Mary Norvell, 08/17/2010]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Painted RockPainted Rock, Rudolph, WI - 3 mi.
Boy and the BootBoy and the Boot, Stevens Point, WI - 11 mi.
World's Largest Potato MasherWorld's Largest Potato Masher, Plover, WI - 14 mi.
In the region:
Bigfoot Statue, Wisconsin Dells, WI - 62 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Wisconsin Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings