Reclusive millionaire Alex Jordan designed much of the landscaping and architecture of his residence, known as the House on the Rock. He designed and constructed 13 rooms in sequential order, performing most of the labor alone. He completed the house in 1959.
A 375 ft ramp through the trees leads to fantastic structure atop Wisconsin’s unique rock formations. Jordan emulated Frank Lloyd Wright (who rudely refused to hire Jordan’s father into his firm), and was particularly fond of Asian buildings. His Gate House is a model home, which Jordan proposed could be replicated in many different environments.
The main portion of Jordan’s dream home is packed full of doll collections, automated musical instruments, theme park attractions, a magnificent pipe organ, a 30 ft tall shark head, a life-sized model village, and antique displays. Jordan’s love for the outdoors is evident in the lush tea gardens and the “infinity room,” which vanishes to a point as it cantilevers over a cliff.
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