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photo by Tim Engstrom
The Itasca Rock Garden features grottoes, turrets, doorways and plenty of vegetation. It is northwest of Albert Lea in a place that once was the town of Itasca.
Exploring Albert Lea: Itasca Rock Garden
Storage building turns into art project
Published Thursday, August 28, 2008
Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of stories appearing weekly through the remainder of the summer. The stories highlight places in and around Albert Lea most people have seen or know about but rarely visit.
In 1925, John L. Christensen set out to construct a small castle-like building to store beehives.
What began as a small project grew and grew until Christensen gathered more rocks and concrete to make other structures and a rock garden was formed. The garden setting even had fish ponds.
Born in Denmark in 1875, Christensen came to Freeborn County when he was 9 years old. He lived and farmed in the Riceland Township until his retirement.
The Danish-born handyman worked to expand and improve on his rock garden until his death in April 1939.
Photo by Tim Engstrom
John Christensen’s masonry work resulted in intricate details at the Itasca Rock Garden.
His widow married George Colbertson in 1940, and they maintained the Itasca Rock Garden for 10 years. It passed through more hands until Joe Spark Jr. bought the property in 1985.
Born 80 years ago, the Itasca Rock Garden remains one of Albert Lea’s more intriguing attractions.
Spark welcomes anyone to the garden as long as they “behave and show courtesy and respect.”
The garden is located just northwest of Edgewater park and south of Wedge Nursery. It’s in Bancroft Township near the site of the pioneer town of Itasca and at the corner of Itasca and Bluegrass Roads, near the corner of 736th Avenue.
A historic marker for the pioneer village of Itasca is next to the roadway and near the driveway entry to the garden area.
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Comments
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A beautiful place to visit and photograph. The story about
storage for beehives is one story. I've also heard it was
built to be a mausileum for him and his wife. Either way,
it's a fun place to visit.
Posted by mommyof4 (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a beautiful place for taking pictures. I took nice pictures of my kids here!
Posted by lrc (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How come there is no mention ever about Arthur (Art) and Edna Johnson-they lived and worked there for years and they had a helper, Joe Spark Jr.
Posted by ASJ (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I haven't been there for awhile but I love this place, I should really bring my kids.. they'd love it!
Posted by karen (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Art and Edna Johnson were my dad's Uncle and Aunt. I spent many summers playing in this beautiful garden. Last time I was there was 1983, after Art had passed away. We had a family reunion there with Aunt Edna.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on August 28, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just talked to Joe Spark Jr, who owns the Rock Garden,
and he didn't even know about this article.
Posted by kki (anonymous) on August 30, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
An awesome article and a very awesome garden.
Thank you Joe Sparks for sharing so cordially.
I have lived in this area for over 40 years and just discovered this sureal creation thru this article.
Thank goodness for digital cameras or I would have been changing film every 5 minutes.
It brings to mind the Groto @ West Bend IA, but with a this garden has a much calmer and soothing effect on the soul.
I hope you are able to maintain its personal aura and not commercialize it. Again, thank you for sharing.
Posted by kona (anonymous) on September 7, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story, as nice as it is, is really incomplete.
Joe has wonderful information about how the garden was created. It is a lot more incredible than most even know.
This would have been a great place to tell that story.
I would like to see an interview with Joe and a follow-up story.
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