Living Rock Studios — Attraction in Brownsville

I appreciate the effort that has gone into this place. I would have preferred to learn the history on my own without a guide and then chit-chatted with the owners afterwards, as I have while visiting lots of other local attractions throughout my life. Our guide seemed to not actually engage with his audience, but just talk at us, which dismisses the welcoming family atmosphere they are probably going for. He also seemed to want us to have certain opinions about the place, like that it was "very unique" and that the original creator was this amazing human being. These phrases were repeatedly used like a car salesman. Those things should speak for themselves without me being told; I'm much more likely to be skeptical if they are preached at me, and that's also true of anyone else I would have brought here.

As someone who was raised in a church and has been to a number of churches, including cathedrals and historical monuments, I would not have found the biblical stuff pleasant as a child (nor as an adult) if I came across it in a museum that was claiming to be historical about local Oregon history. All the distracting, laminated biblical quotes are taking up space that information about local history, family, and building could be taking up, and then I would remember a lot more of what I was told. I felt misled by the website in that the museum is much less about Oregon history than it is the man who built the place and his various passions bordering on obsessions. Making one's own arrowheads and displaying them next to real Native artifacts seems dishonest (if those artifacts are real). This is what makes the place NOT unique to me compared to other roadside attractions: I found it a bit sketchy, far-fetched, misleading, and overly self-promoting. The one way it was unique was the surprising religious preachiness, but I wouldn't say that's a plus. It was an interesting trip. I don't expect anything there to change based on my review or for people to agree with me, but I wanted to express myself. Good luck to them, they were...

We actually stopped here for a geocache and not to see this place. I've driven by this my whole life and never stopped. DON'T BE ME. Go to this place on purpose and don't wait forever. I know, you might think a rock museum does not sound fun, but it's so much more than that. It's cool, like really really interesting actually, and just beautiful things everywhere. I 100% guarantee that you will never, no matter where you go, come across a place like this ever again in your whole life. If you can take the tour with Penny (whose father built this place) then you will be delighted. She knows so much local history and has so much interesting family history herself. And she herself is simply lovely and incredibly talented in her own right, a very unassuming, but incredibly impressive lady.

Pro Tip: Bring a small, but strong flashlight. You will be happy if you do!

I was so fascinated by everything that I actually forgot to take my phone out even for a picture, but I'll update with one...

Shockingly surprised how much is in this museum! It is full of history, rocks, petrified wood, Indian artifacts, paintings and much more. Admission is free and they accept donations. I went with my mother, sister, nieces, nephew and 7yr old son and everyone had fun and enjoyed the museum. As one reviewer said there are religions things in the museum but I personally felt that it wasn't a distraction from the history if you are not religious. We were given a tour of the museum and our guide had so much information we could probably go back a second time and learn more information. There is a 400 year old oak tree, beautiful rocks and petrified wood walls and translucent rock murals that are impressive. So much to see and if you are looking for something different and interesting I...