_-_03.JPG) One of the rock garden's many miniature buildings, 2013 | |
  Location within Oregon | |
| Established | 1935 |
|---|---|
| Location | 7930 Southwest 77th Street Deschutes County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44°12′11″N 121°15′44″W / 44.203005°N 121.262197°W |
| Type | Rock garden |
| Owner | Susan Caward[1] |
Petersen Rock Garden, formerly Petersen's Rock Garden and also known as the Petersen Rock Gardens,[2][3] is a rock garden and museum on 4 acres (1.6 ha), located between the cities of Bend and Redmond in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Rasmus Petersen, a Danish immigrant who settled in Central Oregon in the early 1900s, began constructing the garden in 1935 using rocks he found within an 85-mile (137 km) radius of his family home. Petersen constructed detailed miniature castles, churches and other small buildings and monuments from a variety of rock types. He incorporated other design elements such as bridges, water features, and natural landscaping. Petersen worked on the garden until his death in 1952; the garden has remained in his family's care since then. The garden, considered a roadside attraction with novelty architecture, includes roaming peafowl and a museum with a gift shop that sells rocks.
In 2011, Petersen Rock Garden was named one of Oregon's Most Endangered Places by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon (now known as Restore Oregon). In 2012, accidental damage to one of the stone bridges by a contractor catalyzed an effort to document the garden using laser scanning and other technologies. The garden was closed temporarily in 2013 to undergo repair and review for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Petersen has been praised for his creative work, and the garden has received a positive reception for its uniqueness and local significance. Listing on the National Register was achieved on October 30, 2013. The garden closed indefinitely in 2016 because of high repair costs. In June 2022, Petersen was listed for sale.[4][5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
KTVZwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Guide to the Farm Home of Rasmus Petersen, Redmond, Oregon, Photograph Album ca. 1940–1950". Northwest Digital Archives. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ Richard, Terry (June 8, 2009). "Have a rocking time at Petersen Rock Gardens". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ "Famed roadside attraction Petersen Rock Garden & Museum up for sale". KTVZ. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Hale, Jamie. "Petersen Rock Garden, beloved roadside attraction, is for sale". The Bulletin. Retrieved 11 June 2022.