Miniature Village at Rock Garden in Calhoun GA, Gordon County Landmark
Have you ever heard of a magical place where rocks come to life? That’s exactly what you’ll find in the small town of Calhoun, Georgia. Hidden behind a church, there’s a special garden called the Rock Garden. It’s not your usual garden with flowers and trees. Instead, it’s filled with amazing rock sculptures that look like tiny buildings from around the world.
The Rock Garden is unique because it combines art and nature in a beautiful way. When you visit, you’ll see small versions of famous buildings made entirely out of rocks. Imagine seeing the Colosseum from Italy or Notre Dame Cathedral from Paris, but tiny and made of stone! It’s like a miniature world hidden in Georgia.
Who created the Rock Garden, and why?
The Rock Garden was created by a man named DeWitt Boyd. People called him “Old Dog” as a nickname. DeWitt wasn’t a famous artist or a rich person. He was just a regular guy who really loved rocks.
DeWitt’s passion for rocks started when he was a kid. He would pick up interesting rocks wherever he went. As he grew older, his family moved to different places, and he saw many different types of rocks. This made him love rocks even more.
How did the Rock Garden come to life?
DeWitt had a big dream. He wanted to create a place where other people could see how amazing rocks could be. He didn’t just want to show off his rock collection. He wanted to use the rocks to build something spectacular.
Over time, DeWitt started building his dream garden. He used all the rocks he had collected over the years. He carefully placed each rock to create tiny buildings, paths, and landscapes. It was like he was building a small version of the world, all made out of rocks.
What can visitors see at the Rock Garden?
When you visit the Rock Garden, you’ll see amazing things made out of rocks. There are small versions of famous buildings from around the world. You might recognize some of them, like:
- The Colosseum from Rome, Italy
- Notre Dame Cathedral from Paris, France
But there’s more than just famous buildings. You’ll also see:
- Tiny houses
- Small churches
- Little castles
- Miniature bridges
All of these are made with different types of rocks. Some are smooth, some are rough, and they come in many colors.
What Makes the Miniature Village So Special?
The heart of the Rock Garden is its enchanting miniature village. It’s like a magical world shrunk down to fit in your backyard. This village isn’t made of plastic or wood like toy sets you might have seen. Instead, it’s crafted from tiny stones, bits of ceramic, and even broken glass.
In this tiny world, you can find about 50 miniature castles and cute little houses. Each one is different, showing various styles of buildings from different times and places around the world.
DeWitt Boyd, the creator of the Rock Garden, spent countless hours building each tiny structure. He didn’t just use rocks. He mixed different materials to make each building special:
- Natural materials like rocks, pebbles, and wood
- Colorful pieces of mosaic and stained glass
- Small porcelain figures to bring the scenes to life
The detail in each building is amazing. If you look closely, you can see:
- Textured roofs that look like tiny shingles
- Brickwork that seems too small to be real
- Delicate windowpanes you could almost see through
- Ornate doorways fit for the tiniest of visitors
To make the village even more charming, DeWitt added extras like gazebos, lighthouses, and terraces. It’s like a complete tiny world!
Opening Hours and Admission Fee
What Are the Opening Hours? The Rock Garden is open every single day. You can visit from sunrise to sunset. This means you have plenty of time to explore and enjoy all the tiny wonders.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit? And it’s free! You don’t have to pay anything to visit the Rock Garden. This makes it a perfect place for anyone to enjoy, whether you’re a tourist or a local looking for something fun to do.
How to Get to Rock Garden in Calhoun?
The Rock Garden is located in Northwest Georgia. It’s hidden behind the Calhoun Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Here’s the exact address:
Address: The Rock Garden, 1411 Rome Rd SW, Calhoun, GA 30701
If you’re coming from Atlanta, take I-75 N towards Chattanooga. Take exit 312 for GA-53 toward Calhoun/Fairmount. Turn left onto GA-53 W/GA-53 Connector W/US-41 S (signs for Rome Road).
Continue on Rome Road for approximately 1.5 miles, and the Rock Garden will be on your left, situated within the grounds of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Where Can You Park? Don’t worry about parking. There’s a parking lot at the church that visitors to the Rock Garden can use. It’s free and easy to access.
Can You Get There by Bus or Train? Unfortunately, there aren’t many public transportation options to get to the Rock Garden. The best way to visit is by car.
