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All the United States Arizona Phoenix Sunnyslope Rock Garden
AO Edited

Sunnyslope Rock Garden

This trippy wonderland is the result of one man's obsessive, decades long passion project.

Phoenix, Arizona

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are we there yet
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Grover Cleveland Thompson worked on this masterpiece for more than two decades.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
Grover Cleveland Thompson worked on this masterpiece for more than two decades.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
This piece of folk art is unlike any in the world.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
The city of Phoenix officially recognizes this particular treasure.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
These sculptures were created out of all sorts of found materials.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
  are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
Marion Blake has preserved the legacy of the rock garden.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
Explore this remarkable space at your leisure.   are we there yet / Atlas Obscura User
Marion Blake in her garden   j3taylor / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Standing on his newly purchased patch of bare Arizona desert in 1951, Grover Cleveland Thompson found the place to make his dreams come alive. Using abundant local resources of dirt, sand, rocks, broken crockery, Halloween masks, scrap metal and other artistic essentials, Grover spent the next several decades building a Gaudí-esque wonderland in Phoenix. He continued to work on the project right up until he passed away in 1977.

Later, Marion Blake lovingly preserved Thompsons rock garden not only from the ravages of time, but also from a project to gouge up its fragile wonders and relocate them to ASU. This quirky place was once a sparsely settled desert area 10 miles north of downtown Phoenix, just east of the now aging highway business district of Cave Creek Road.

On your way to and from the rock garden, keep your eyes open along Cave Creek Road for glimpses of architectural and natural features from a quieter time in the desert. Today, this gem is still owned by Blake. As of early 2025, she still occasionally conducts tours of the garden. 

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Even if you can't get a personal tour with Blake, visitors are generally welcome to just drop by.

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are we there yet

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j3taylor

  • j3taylor

Published

February 27, 2025

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Sources
  • Interview with Marion Blake
  • https://sunnyslopehistoricalsociety.org/
Sunnyslope Rock Garden
10023 N 13th Pl
Phoenix, Arizona, 85020
United States
33.577558, -112.052877
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Explore the Destination Guide

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Phoenix

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Places 24
Stories 3

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Explore the Destination Guide

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Phoenix

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Stories 3

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