ARCOLA HAS SOME OTHER ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS. ONE OF THEM STARTED OUT AS A
PRIVATE GARDEN AND HAS GROWN
INTO A POPULAR DESTINATION AS WE
DISCOVER
DISCOVERED AT ROCK HOLME GARDEN.
THERE IS ARTHUR ILLINOIS R, HIS
NAME WAS ARTHUR MARTIN.
HE WAS VERY INTERESTED THIS
FLOWERS.
HE LOVED HIS FLOWERS.
HE WANTED TO BUILD A GARDEN FOR
HIS FLOWERS AND MAKE IT UNUSUAL.
ALL THE ROCK FENCES HE MADE, ALL
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WENT
ALONG WITH THE R GARDEN WAS HIS
OWN CREATION.
THE GARDEN ITSELF, WE HAVEN'T
CHANGED MUCH FROM THE TIME HE
WAS HERE WHICH WAS THE MIDDLE
40'S.
SO THE GARDENS ARE PRETTY WELL
THE WAY HE LEFT THEM AND BUILT
THEM.
>> THE OLDEST AREA IS THE FORMAL
SUNKEN GARDEN WHICH WAS THE R
ORIGINAL ENTRANCE.
HERE, RAISED FLOWER BEDS LINE
THE PATHS LEADING VISITORS
AROUND THE VARIOUS ROCK
SCULPTURES THAT DOT THE GARDEN.
ELSEWHERE, MR. MARTIN CREATED
THEMES IN SPECIALIZED AREAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS
SOUTHWESTERN MOTIF IN ONE CORNER
DISPLAYING TAX CACTUS AND OTHER
HARDY PLANTS FROM THAT REGION.
THERE IS A LILY SECTION WHERE
WATER CASCADES DOWN A MANMADE
HILL.
THAT WATER RUNS DOWN TO SEVERAL
SMALL PONDS EACH WITH FLOWERING
PLANT AND WATER GRASSES.
IN THE HAD MIDST OF HIS GARDEN,
MR. MARTIN BUILT A SMALL CABIN
TO LIVE IN DURING WEEKEND
VISITS.
HE COVERED EXTERIOR ARE ROCK TO
MATCH THE GARDEN.
EVENTUALLY, MR. MARTIN SOLD THE
GARDENS TO A FRIEND WHO REALIZED
THAT NEW ATTRACTIONS WERE NEEDED
TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INTERESTED.
A TREE HOUSE WAS ADDED FOR KIDS
TO EXPLORE, ALONG WITH A COUPLE
OF OF PYHOUSES WHOSE SIDES AND
ROOF WERE COVERED IN OLD SODA
BOTTLES.
THOSE R WERE BUILT IN THE LATE
60'S. MY DAD BASICALLY WANTED
AT THAT POINT WANTED TO ADD
DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS.
WE HAD A LOT OF THESE BOTTLES.
THE LOCAL BOTTLING COMPANY WHEN
HE WENT TO MAKE -- PUTTING
THINGS THIS CANS, THEY HAD ALL
THESE BOTTLES THEY WANTED TO GET
RID OF.
DAD WENT AND GOT THEM, AND WE
KEPT THEM FOR YEARS.
THEN WE NEEDED AN ENTRANCE TO
THE HAUNTED CAVE, SO WE DECIDED
TO MAKE -- USE SOME OF THOSE
BOTTLES TO MAKE A CASTLE.
IT IS MADE WITH THE WALLS AND
THE PILLARS FROM IS MADE OUT OF
BOTTLE.
IN ADDITION TO THE NEW
BUILDINGS, VARIOUS GIFT SHOPS
AND RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS
WERE ADDED THAT EMPHASIZED MORE
SIMPLE LIFE INSPIRED THE BY
AMISH NEIGHBORS.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOUNGER VISITORS
THEN PARTICIPATE IN ROPE MAKING
AFTER WHICH THEY GET TO KEEP THE
FINAL PRODUCT.
THERE IS ALSO OLD FASHIONED BELT
DRIVEN BUZZ SAW THAT GETS ITS
POWER FROM A HORSE.
>> WE HAVE THE CHILDREN OR ADULT
ACTUALLY RIDE THIS HORSE.
THEY RIDE R AROUND A CIRCLE,
PROVIDE THE POWER FOR THE SAW,
AND THEN WE SAW OFF A CIRCLE OF
WOOD FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT IS
RIDING.
THEY GET TO KEEP THE WOOD.
IF THEY WANT TO GET IT
PERSONALIZED, THEY TAKE IT
ACROSS THE STREET TO THE
BLACKSMITH SHOP.
HE HEATS UP IRON IN AN OLD
FORGE, AND HE WILL BURN IN THE
NAMES OR WHENEVER YOU WANT ON
THERE.
WE HAVE A PONY THAT OPERATES THE
SAME TYPE OF HORSEPOWER, BUT IT
IS HOOKED UP TO A WATER PUMP.
BAKERY IS LOCATED IN THE OLD
BAGHDAD SECTION.
WE MAKE BREAD, CINNAMON ROLLS,
COOKIES, PRETZELS, THOSE KIND OF
THINGS.
WE DO HAVE AMISH HELP IN THERE
MOST OF THE TIME THAT ACTUALLY
MAKE THE PRODUCTS.
A LOOM, WE DID BUY A LOOM OFF OF
A LADY, OH, 20, 30 YEARS AGO,
AND IT IS SET UP TO MAKE THROW
RUGS.
GRIST MILL, WE ADDED IN THE MID
70'S.
WE USE IT TO GRIND CORN.
WE GRIND CORN, YELLOW CORN AND
WHITE CORN TO MAKE CORNMEAL, AND
ALSO WHEAT TO MAKE FLOUR.
>>
YEAH, WE ADDED THAT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. BASICALLY IT IS FOR THE KIDS.
BUT ADULTS LIKE IT, TOO.
BUT IT IS AN OUTDOOR SETTING,
WHERE TRAINS ARE ACTUALLY RUN
OUTDOORS. THERE ARE THREE
DIFFERENT TRACK LAY OUTS.
THE TRAINS GO AROUND THE CIRCLE,
BUT IT IS VERY INTERESTING AND
OF COURSE, THE YOUNGER KIDS JUST
GO NUTS ON THAT.
THEN THEY ALSO RIGHT NEXT DOOR
IS A TREE HOUSE. THEY LOVE TO
GO THROUGH THE TREE HOUSE AND
CAN ACTUALLY WATCH THE TRAIN
FROM THE TREE HOUSE.
WE GET A LOT OF LETTERS FROM PEOPLE THAT JUST WRITE US AND THANK US FOR PROVIDING SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE SAY IS
WE THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A
PLACE THAT PROVIDES -- THAT
PROVIDES RELAXATION AND SOME
PLACE DIFFERENT TO GO THAN R
YOUR NORMAL THEME PARK.
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