Spring Green Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Spring Green is a village of 1,600 people (2019) in Southwest Wisconsin and is the home of two unique architectural wonders: Frank Lloyd Wright's magnificent Taliesin, and Alex Jordan's mysterious House on the Rock. The area is also popular with visitors because of a local Shakespearean theatre, the nearby Wisconsin River with its many recreational opportunities, and a 27-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course.

Map of Spring Green

The nearest airport is in Madison. From there, take US-12/14 to exit 251A/B and continue on US-14 West for 35-40 minutes.

Visitors will need a car to get around Spring Green. The intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 23 is near the center of town. Most lodgings are off Highway 14, while the small downtown is signposted from Highway 23.

Affluent visitors can choose to fly into the small airport located just north of Lone Rock and enjoy breakfast at the Piccadilly Lilly, a restaurant associated with the airport.

• 43.1-90.1361111 The House on the Rock, 5754 Hwy 23. Sep: daily 9AM-7PM; off-season: F-Su 9AM-5PM. One of the weirdest museums you'll ever see. The house itself is an interesting architectural jumble, particularly the Infinity Room, which is suspended a long way over the forest canopy below. But jaws really start dropping in the second and third areas, which include "The Streets of Yesterday", the world's largest carousel, and more self-playing musical instruments than you ever thought existed. It's a staggering collection of toys, marvels, ephemera and oddities, brought together with an air of mystery and glee. It'd be nice if there were more labels to explain where these things came from, but then it'd take eight hours to see it all instead of four (and that's if you move at a brisk pace). Special exhibitions on for the Christmas season. Not recommended for people affected by claustrophobia or anxiety. Tickets for each of the 'tours' are $12.50, or $28.50 for all three.  
• 43.1415-90.07092 Taliesin, 5607 Cty. Rd. C (Entrances from both Highway 14 and Highway 23), toll-free: +1-877-588-7900, [email protected]. May – Oct: 9AM-4:30PM. Once the family home of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright — and then an architectural commune and school under his direction — "Taliesin" refers both to the iconic house he designed there, and also to the sprawling complex of buildings on the site. It's one of eight buildings by Wright to be listed as a world heritage site. Regular performances and receptions are held here, and it's still a working school. There's an inexpensive tour ($16), where you'll see exteriors and interiors of the Hillside School. The longer tours, which take you to the interior and gardens of the home, Taliesin, are highly recommended for Wright enthusiasts but pricey ($47-80).  

• 43.1422-90.03833 American Players Theater, 5950 Golf Course Road, ☏ +1 608-588-2361, [email protected]. Renowned theater company, with a repertoire of Shakespeare, Shaw, and a few other classics. Stages an outdoor Shakespeare festival each summer. Tickets $35-48.  
• Canoeing. Canoe trips on the Wisconsin River are easily arranged. Inquire at hotels, at Trader's Bar & Grill (see Drink), Wisconsin Canoe Company, or at Bob's Riverside Resort (see Sleep). 
• Tower Hill State Park, off Highway 14, Highway 23 and County Road C, on the banks of the Wisconsin River, ☏ +1 608-588-2116, fax: +1 608-588-3476, [email protected]. Several hiking trails. 
• Village of Spring Green Municipal Golf Course, Highway 23, ☏ +1 608-546-4001. Offers a 9-hole course. 
• The House on the Rock Golf Course. 

• Spring Green Art Fair, Downtown, on Jefferson Street. Arts and crafts on sale the last full weekend of June. 
• Spring Green Country Christmas, Downtown. Old-timey Christmas charm, one weekend every December. 
• Spring Green Literary Festival. 8:30AM-5PM. Takes place the second Saturday in September with 3 authors and a catered lunch; writers workshop available for an additional price. $50-75. 

The Taliesin gift shop has books, gifts, home accessories, and some gorgeous Wright furnishings, but you'll need a similarly gorgeous amount of money to buy most of them.

• Country Sampler, 133 E Jefferson St, ☏ +1 608-588-2510. Acclaimed as a "Top 10 Quilt Shop" by magazines including Quilt Sampler and Better Homes and Gardens. They're known for reproduction quilt fabrics, their own "Worn & Loved" fabric line and patterns, custom quilt kits, cross stitch, folk art and home decor. The second floor features a retreat space. 
• Panacea, 248 E Jefferson St, ☏ +1 608-588-2280, [email protected]. Features herbal remedies, home decor, body care, and jewelry. Upstairs is The Closet, which carries lightly used, high-quality, brand-name clothing. 

• Reflections Jewelry, 32724 Hwy 130 (in the country 10 miles west of Spring Green; 50 miles west of Madison), ☏ +1 608-604-5535. daily; call for hours. Visit a working jewelry artist's studio all year round. Located in an Amish log cabin in the country, featuring silver and gold jewelry and pewter boxes. Call for hours or shop online @ reflectionsjewelryonline.com. 

• Arthur's Supper Club, Hwy. 14 & 23, ☏ +1 608 588-2521. A nice little steak house and supper club. $15-40. 
• Reunion Restaurant, 134 W Jefferson St (Located on Jefferson Street in downtown Spring Green), ☏ +1 608-588-7600. Tu-Su 11AM-2PM, 4-10PM, Sa Su brunch 11AM-2PM. A moderately priced venue (you might pay $100 for a three-course meal for 2 people) with a menu that changes every Thursday in order to comply with the availability of local and fresh ingredients. Excellent food with a great atmosphere in the renovated State Bank of Spring Green building which is reaching 90 years of age. 
• Pat's Place, 6279 County Road C (Just off Highway 14), ☏ +1 608-588-7828, fax: +1 608-588-2821. In the Spring Valley Inn. Perhaps a little pricey, given that the front desk clerk of the hotel may be the one who's cooking your dinner, but the resulting food is well above diner class, and the desserts are excellent. There's a bar and a fireplace as well. 
• Riverview Terrace Cafe, Highway C and 23 (inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center), ☏ +1 608-588-7900. Open May-Oct for lunch 9AM-4PM. Guides say it's the only standalone restaurant Wright designed. 
• Round Barn Lodge & Restaurant, E4830 Hwy 14 & 60, ☏ +1 608 588-2568. Also offers lodging (see below). 
• Spring Green General Store and Cafe, 137 S Albany St (Between Jefferson and Madison downtown), ☏ +1 608-588-7070. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 8AM-4PM. Weekend breakfast menu served 8AM-noon. Serves breakfast and lunch. Changing menu for lunch, although the cafe also has an unchanging menu. Vegetarian entrees served every day, full breakfast served only on Saturdays and Sundays, with continental breakfast through the rest of the week. Sandwiches and drinks available for takeout. 

Downtown Spring Green has more bars than restaurants, which is to say "two or three".

• Trader's Bar & Grill, Highway 14, ☏ +1 608-588-7282. Can also arrange canoe rentals. 
• Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret, 137 W Jefferson St, ☏ +1 608 588-0242, [email protected]. Thursday - Sunday 5:30 - 10:30, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Offers a full calendar of concerts and events, craft cocktails and mocktails, a beer garden, and a huge record collection. (updated Oct 2023)

• ^{[formerly dead link]} Bob's Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, ☏ +1 608-588-2826, [email protected]. Wi-fi available. Also rents canoes and kayaks. RV hook-ups for $24 per night, tent sites for $19 per night.. 
• Tower Hill State Park, Off Highway 14, Highway 23 and County Road C, on the banks of the Wisconsin River, ☏ +1 608-588-2116, fax: +1 608-588-3476, [email protected]. Campsites and picnic areas. 

• Steampunk Manor B&B, 353 W Hill St, ☏ +1 608-576-4323. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Located in a Queen Anne Victorian home, in a residential area of Spring Green. Rooms $80-100. 
• House on the Rock Inn & Resort, 3591 Hwy 23, Dodgeville, ☏ +1 608-935-3711 (Inn), +1 608-588-7000 (Resort). Has none of the fascinating charm of its namesake and more than a little pricey, but it does have a golf course and a swimming pool. Packages with admission to the House itself start at $115/night. 
• Round Barn Lodge & Restaurant, E4830 Hwy 14 & 60, ☏ +1 608-588-2568. Indoor pool, sauna, wi-fi. Rooms $45-80 off-season, $80-120 otherwise. 
• Spring Green Motel, E5296B Hwy 14, toll-free: +1-888-647-4410, [email protected]. Offers plenty of outdoor facilities: grills, picnic tables, barbecue pits, and even a basketball hoop. 
• Spring Valley Inn, 6279 County Road C (Just off Highway 14), ☏ +1 608-588-7828, fax: +1 608 588-2821. Designed by Taliesin architects, this pleasant inn has a relaxed Wright influence without being overbearing about it. There's a pool, fitness center, convenience store, bar & restaurant on-site. It's nice and quiet at night, with leafy surroundings. Double rooms $105-110. 
• The Usonian Inn, E 5116 Highway 14 (on Highway 14 and Highway 23 South), toll-free: +1-877-876-6426. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Ideally-located, this Taliesin-inspired motel has 11 non-smoking rooms and a selective wine collection in the lobby. Double rooms $59-$110. 
• Don Q Inn, 3658 Hwy 23 North, Dodgeville, ☏ +1 608-935-2321, toll-free: +1-800-666-7848, [email protected]. Hotel known for novelty themed suites for couples (e.g. cave, moon, casino, jungle, arctic). Normal rooms $59, themed rooms $149 for two adults. $59. (updated Dec 2018)

• Southern Wisconsin produces a lot of wine, and many vineyards are open to the public. See Prairie Du Sac, or inquire at any hotel in the area.

La Crosse ← Richland Center ←	W  E	→ Madison → Harvard
Wisconsin Dells ← Reedsburg ←	N  S	→ Dodgeville → Mineral Point