When it comes to enchanting places, none fit the bill quite like the Rudolph Grotto Gardens. Spanning several acres, the grounds include lush greenery, colorful flowers, and meandering paths, so you can easily explore the idyllic site – but that’s not all. There are also numerous shrines, a cave, man-made rock formations, museum, and gift shop. Take a look:

At first glance, St. Philips Church in Rudolph looks like a regular church.

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However, it’s anything but – and that’s because directly behind the church lies one of the state’s best hidden gems, Rudolph Grotto Gardens.

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With lush greenery, vibrant flowers, meandering paths, rock formations, and charming bridges, the grounds are like something straight from a fairy tale.

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There’s more to the enchanting site than idyllic gardens, though.

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Visitors can also spend their time exploring the on-site chapel, museum, and gift shop.

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Or, walk along the shrines, which depict the Fourteen Stations of the Cross and the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

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But the best part about Rudolph Grotto Gardens has got to be Wonder Cave.

Patrina Platt/Google Modeled after the catacombs in Rome, the cave is basically a 1/5-mile passageway that’s lined with 26 shrines and dioramas.

Man-made, the cave is the result of a promise Father Philip Wagner made to the Virgin Mary in 1912, while at the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.

AndrewFromMadison/TripAdvisor The young priest asked to be healed from a chronic illness, promising to build a shrine to Our Lady if the prayer was fulfilled. Father Wagner, a man of his word, was healed and began work on the Rudolph Grotto Gardens in 1920 – despite having no prior construction experience.

A huge undertaking, work on the cave didn’t come to an end until 1983!

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Boasting history and beauty, Rudolph Grotto Gardens is as touching as it is eye-catching. So, are you ready to plan your visit?

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K/Google

Moes Tavern/Google

Suzanne C/TripAdvisor

AndrewFromMadison/TripAdvisor

Patrina Platt/Google

Modeled after the catacombs in Rome, the cave is basically a 1/5-mile passageway that’s lined with 26 shrines and dioramas.

The young priest asked to be healed from a chronic illness, promising to build a shrine to Our Lady if the prayer was fulfilled. Father Wagner, a man of his word, was healed and began work on the Rudolph Grotto Gardens in 1920 – despite having no prior construction experience.

Lori Ann M/TripAdvisor

The grounds of the Rudolph Grotto Gardens are open year-round. The gift shop, cave, and museum are open daily Memorial Day through September 6th, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. From September 7th through October 31st, they’re open daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, call (715) 435-3120. You can also visit the Rudolph Grotto Gardens website.

Did you know about the Rudolph Grotto Gardens? Ever visited? If so, what’d you think? Tell us in the comments section.

This isn’t the state’s only grotto. Read about another here.

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Address: 6975 Grotto Ave, Rudolph, WI 54475, USA