REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After years of restoration work, one of Central Oregon’s most beloved roadside landmarks is ready to shine once again. The Petersen Rock Garden & Museum, located between Bend and Redmond, will celebrate its grand reopening this weekend, the site’s biggest event in decades.
A ribbon cutting is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4th, to mark the occasion. Thanks to a generous grant from Webfoot Home Improvements, the museum’s display cases, cabinets, and flooring have been fully restored. Visitors will also notice upgrades to the glow-in-the-dark rock room and the old café.
During those restorations, the garden’s new owners made an unexpected discovery.
“We found a brochure from, like, 1953 that was hid behind the 90-year-old cabinets,” said Tonia Smith, manager of Petersen Rock Garden. “It’s actually in pretty good condition, even colored. We were able to look at some of those pictures and do our best to recreate a couple of things there.”
The reopening celebration is free to attend, though donations are encouraged to help preserve the historic property. Food trucks will serve hot dogs and desserts, and local geologists will be on hand to explain the minerals and fossils that make up the museum’s impressive displays.
For rockhounds and collectors, there will even be a raffle featuring thunder eggs and rare angel wing agates.
If it’s been a while since your last visit, or if you’ve never seen this iconic Oregon treasure, now’s the perfect time to experience the creativity and whimsical spirit of Rasmus Petersen’s original rock garden.
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