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February 2024 by T J
It is always a blessing to go to the Grotto at West Bend, Iowa.
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February 2024 by Scotlyn Havick
very pretty but the employees were laughing at us as we left… not very welcoming
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January 2024 by Leah Fehr
Amazing piece of art sharing about the Bible! To God be the glory!
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December 2023 by Lisa Clark
Great hidden gem well worth the stop.
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December 2023 by Kevin Jenkins
Religion is weird
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November 2023 by Darcy Siem
Beautiful place!
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November 2023 by Elizabeth Sciore-Jones
I love this place! I’m not sure how the new age hippies have missed this, but maybe it’s how far it is from everything. Regardless it’s stunning!!Don’t let the pictures fool you, 100% of this shrine is made of crystals and fossils. Truly beautiful and the artistry is unmatched.Got to meet and hang out with the caretaker, a super interesting guy. After the tour see if he’s around for a good convo!Lots of camping ground space, some right in front of the shrine, better sites off to the left side of the shrines plaza.
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November 2023 by Stephanie Doucette
Very interesting place, quite eccentric. The statues were beautiful, as is the church. They had some very interesting places where you can learn about different rocks (geology), and where you can learn about the Father that created the place. All in all, I enjoyed my visit there, albeit a bit odd.
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September 2023 by Katie A
I've had this on my bucket list for a bit and never thought I'd actually make it. Now that we live on the road it was possible. There's even a campground here! $20 a night and electric hookup. Water and dump station also available. So not only am I able to see this during the day, but at night too!This place is magical! Awesome, amazing, stunning, gorgeous, peaceful, all of it. I'm so glad we made it. So much to see and take in. And the history behind this place makes it that much better. You can't miss this place if you're ever in the area, a must see. I'm giddy with joy lol.The lady in the gift shop was also so sweet. We enjoyed talking to her.
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August 2023 by Kris S.
very interesting place to visit. it wasn't as great as I was hoping, but it's certainly very interesting to see. the staff was nice. bathrooms were nice. give it a try.
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August 2023 by Patricia O.
It's impressive especially if you are Catholic! Amazing that the priests built it all by hand with rocks and semi precious stones from All Over the World! I arrived there on a early Wednesday afternoon. I gave it only 3 stars because Nobody was in the office or nice little museum to greet us hello, or answer any questions. I thought that was weird. It's a peaceful place in a small Iowa town. Plenty of camping areas. Small town with not much to do. We were fortunate to have a nice comfortable sunny day and not too hot.
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July 2023 by Breathany Smitten
I went as a child & have wanted to go back ever since then. It's so neat to learn about the history of the making & the creator. Absolutely stunningly beautiful. It's the referred to as the 7th wonder of the world & it is the largest Grotto in the world. It's free & they even have camping spots on the grounds with indoor restrooms & showers & even meals to purchase. It's a super clean campground so bring your own Iowa wood for a fire.
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July 2023 by Prim Ilagan
Was this worth the hour plus from Des Moines? Questionable. It’s definitely a site to see and pretty magnificent. The history behind it is every more fun. The Grotto is set in a neighborhood next to a Church. Free but welcomes donations. It’s made up of so many different types of rocks and elements- really is a sight to see. It’s beautiful.The visit takes about 15-20 minutes depending on how long you linger. There’s a gift shop.The church is worth visiting, the inside is beautiful.
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July 2023 by Prim I.
Was this worth the hour plus from Des Moines? Questionable. It's definitely a site to see and pretty magnificent. The history behind it is every more fun. The Grotto is set in a neighborhood next to a Church. Free but welcomes donations. It's made up of so many different types of rocks and elements- really is a sight to see. It's beautiful. The visit takes about 15-20 minutes depending on how long you linger. There's a gift shop. The church is worth visiting, the inside is beautiful.
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June 2023 by Sarah Chernatinski
Stunning! Amazing! Beautiful! Awesome! Simply breathtaking! I found myself amazed at every turn! As someone who is a big fan of rocks, minerals, and geologic specimens, this was an amazing site to visit. We went on the free tour and there was so much to learn and see. It's well worth the visit to see everything there and I'm so happy we took the time to make the trip! It's a must if you are in the area!
