Entry No. 46 — the Des Moines file — filed under: religious-oddity
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption
The world's largest man-made grotto: a full city block of nine hand-built caverns that one obsessed priest spent 42 years (1912-1954) encrusting with semi-precious gems, petrified wood, and fossils. It is open 24/7 and genuinely hypnotic.
The move: Go after dark and walk the grottos by phone-light, hunting for the embedded 300-pound amethyst and the strangest fossils glinting out of the walls.
📍 Before you go This is a small-town pilgrimage about two hours northwest of Des Moines: the grotto fills a whole block on the north edge of West Bend, with free parking, an on-site campground, and a rock-encrusted museum and gift shop right on the grounds. The walkways are narrow, uneven stone that squeezes under arches and climbs staircases some 40 feet up, so wear grippy shoes, especially after rain. Grounds stay open around the clock and are lit into the evening; guided tours run seasonally from spring through fall, starting at the museum, and entry is donation-based. One tip for treasure-hunters: the famous 300-pound Brazilian amethyst is set above the manger in the Christmas Chapel beside Sts. Peter and Paul Church, not out in the open grotto walls.
- 📍 West Bend
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3
last checked: 2026-06-09