Spring Green, Wisconsin and the surrounding Driftless Area offers a unique travel destination, including nationally acclaimed American Players Theatre, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and nearby Cave of the Mounds
American Players Theatre, repeatedly named "the best classical theater company in America" by The Wall Street Journal, is not the only tourist destination that calls scenic Spring Green, WI, home. The tiny village of just over 1,400 people welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually for shows at APT, the surrounding Wisconsin River Valley area provides a plethora of additional art and nature offerings, including: Frank Lloyd Wright’s heralded former home and workshop, Taliesin; the eclectic House on the Rock; Cave of the Mounds; and stunning state parks such as Governor Dodge , Tower Hill and Devil's Lake. For more information, visit www.springgreen.com.
A Taste of the Tourist Offerings in Spring Green
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin
TALIESIN (5607 County Rd. C, Spring Green, WI) was Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, workshop and architectural laboratory for 48 years (1911-1959). Nestled on the brow of a hill near Spring Green, it commands a sweeping view of the valley settled by Wright’s Welsh ancestors in the mid-1800s. Architects, historians and architecture critics alike have praised Taliesin as a masterwork and a triumph of design. Robert Campbell, Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic, called it the “greatest single building in America.” In 1976 Taliesin was designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest honor bestowed on historic properties by the federal government. Taliesin offers a variety of tours of the Taliesin Estate available from May 1 through October 31. Reservations are recommended; call 877-588-7900 or email tours@taliesinpreservation.org.
The House on the Rock
One of the area’s most unique architectural marvels is The House on the Rock (5754 Hwy. 23, Spring Green, WI, 608-935-3639). American Gods fans will know this eclectic masterwork well. Begun in the 1940s, the House on the Rock features an extraordinary complex of rooms, streets, buildings and gardens covering more than 200 acres. Originally built as a weekend retreat, The House on the Rock is a trip through the wild and fantastic imagination of designer Alex Jordan. Tours of the full property are available from March through November, with limited tours available year-round. More information is available at www.thehouseontherock.com.
Outdoor adventures and state parks
Located just 30 minutes outside Spring Green, Cave of the Mounds (2975 Cave of the Mounds Rd. Blue Mounds, WI 53517) a major national landmark, is the upper Midwest’s premier show cave featuring one-hour guided tours through a collection of colorful stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and other formations. Other area nature preserves include: Governor Dodge State Park (4175 Hwy 23 North, Dodgeville, WI, 608-935-2315), one of Wisconsin’s largest state parks, with 5,270 scenic acres of steep hills, bluffs, and deep valleys, plus two lakes and a waterfall; Tower Hill State Park (5808 County Hwy. C, Spring Green, WI, 608-588-2116), featuring campsites, hiking trails, a canoe landing and picnic areas; Avoca Prairie, the largest tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi (located in the Avoca Unit of the Riverway, seven miles west of the Lone Rock Bridge on Hwy. 133); and Ferry Bluff, which provides a spectacular and historical view of the river and surrounding topography (located off of Highway 60, four miles southwest of Sauk City)—on a clear day you can spot the highest point in southern Wisconsin, Blue Mound, thirteen miles to the south.
For those who like outdoor activity at a leisurely pace, the Lower Wisconsin River has no rapids or falls and a current ranging from just 3-5 miles per hour, making it ideal for recreational canoeists. A number of Spring Green-area businesses rent canoes, including Wisconsin Riverside Resort (S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green, 608-588-2826). The Riverway is home to more than 45 species of mammals and nearly 300 bird species, including 23 different waterfowl. River otters, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon and many other mammals thrive here, sharing the lush bottomlands with bald eagles, herons, sandhill cranes, pileated woodpeckers, woodcock and osprey.
Shop Spring Green
Don't miss the eclectic shopping and dining scene
o 43/90 North Earth Gifts & Serenity Book Room (608-588-3313, www.northearth.com)
o Arcadia Books & Kitchen (608-588-7638, www.readinutopia.com)
o Bird of Paradise Tea / No Rules Gallery (608-588-7509. www.gallerytea.com)
o The Country Sampler (608-588-2510, www.sgcountrysampler.com)
o The Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center (608-588-7900, www.taliesinpreservation.com)
o The Spring Green General Store (608-588-7070. www.springgreengeneralstore.com)
o Driftless Depot Market & Café (608-628-1001, www.driftlessdepot.com)
o The Shed (608-588-9049, www.shedspringgreen.com)
o Wisconsin Riverside Resort Camping, Bar & Grille (608-588-2826, www.wiriverside.com)
Spring Green is located in Southwest Wisconsin, just 40 miles from Madison, a 2.5-hour drive from Milwaukee, 3.5-hour drive from Chicago, 4-hour drive from Des Moines, and 5 hours from the Twin Cities.
For additional information about Spring Green attractions, shopping and dining, visit www.springgreen.com.