Kinstone

Inside The Great Stone Circle at sunset. kristine (Atlas Obscura User)

This “modern megalithic garden” has three stone circles, a seven-circuit classic labyrinth, dolmen, dry-stacked stone sculpture, many boulders and standing stones as well as natural buildings and restored prairie. Visitors can walk in a self-guided manner along mown grass paths and there are signs at many of the features explaining a bit about each one.

Kinstone is spread across 30 acres filled with stone sculptures, natural buildings, native prairie, and views of the Mississippi River. The largest stone brought weighs over 70,000 pounds and the tallest one stands more than 31 feet. So far nearly 200 stones and boulders have been set in meaningful ways over a 15-acre portion of the site.

There are alignments for the cardinal directions, solstices and equinoxes. The sun is ushered into the center of the Great Stone Circle on Summer Solstice through the Summer Solstice Corridor. The Equinox sun rises through a window in the Three Witnesses Sculpture to highlight a natural heart in a standing stone. Winter solstice and Equinox sunsets have their own alignments. The Energy Stones stand on the true north line forming a link between the centers of the Great Stone Circle and the Labyrinth. Annual events are held to honor the passing of the seasons and the cosmic dance between the earth and the sun.

There are several natural buildings including a thatched, hexagonal cordwood structure called the Chapel of Creation with over 450 colorful bottles representing elements of the natural world, a bean-shaped cordwood structure with a living roof called the Dragon’s Keep that has 19 dragons hidden in the walls, and a light straw-clay cabin with bees, honeycomb, oak leaves and acorns sculpted in the walls.

There is a large planted prairie that is part of a long term project to restore prairie and savanna ecosystems on the property. The prairie is in full bloom in late July and early August, and it is splendid to see.

The owner keeps several cats that run loose on the land. These cats are very accustomed to people and act like tour guides as people walk along the paths.

Know Before You Go

Kinstone is open to visitors daily from May 1 to October 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 per person.

It is located just south of Fountain City, Wisconsin. Kinstone is only 3 miles off HWY 54/35 (the Wisconsin Great River Road) and just off Cty Hwy M. The best thing is to use GPS to get here but find detailed directions on the website.

Admission is best paid at the Gift Shop (when open) where you can pay by cash, credit or debit card, Venmo, or PayPal; otherwise, pay in advance online or pay in cash in specific payment boxes at the site, but be prepared with exact amounts as there is no change available when the Gift Shop is not open.

There are porta-potties available during the open season. There is a small retail area in the main building that sells magnets, mugs, t-shirts, and more, so plan to seek that out.