Grotto of the Redemption is worth the drive to West Bend, Iowa

Grotto of the Redemption
Iowa’s Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend

The world’s largest man-made religious shrine stands among the cornfields of Iowa. This may sound hokey, but it’s true. The Grotto of the Redemption is located in the farming community of West Bend, population of less than 1,000 people.

How did a mega-shrine land in the Hawkeye State? It started with a young German seeking his way through life. Paul Dobberstein left his home in Rosenfeld, Germany, in 1872. He immigrated to the United States, where the 20-year-old enrolled in seminary school.

While in school, Dobberstein became ill with pneumonia. With the illness threatening his life, he prayed to the Virgin Mary. He asked the Mother of God to spare his life and he would honor her for the rest of his life. He recovered and graduated from seminary school.

In 1898, The Rev. Dobberstein was named as the priest for the small community in north central Iowa. He would spend his career in West Bend. He immediately started setting rocks and gems aside for his dream of building a shrine to Mary. He would obtain the stones from the area or anyone who offered them to him.

Father Dobberstein and an assistant – Matt Szerensce – started building the grotto in 1912. Szerensce signed on as an assistant after graduating high school. He would spend the next five decades working on the project.

Grotto of the Redemption
The Grotto and its grounds are immaculate

The Grotto of the Redemption tells nine chapters in the life of Jesus. From his birth to his crucifixion and rising, the grotto uses stones, gems and wood to tell the story.

In 1946, The Rev. Louis Greving was assigned to the West Bend parish. He joined Father Dobberstein and Szerensce to continue working on the grotto. Father Dobberstein continued his work on the grotto until his death in 1954 (at the age of 82). He spent 42 years of his life dedicated to building the shrine to Mary and Jesus.

Szereensce continued his work on the grotto until retiring in 1959. Father Greving worked on it for another 50 years. It’s now maintained by a local deacon.

It’s a beautiful structure, taking up a city block. More than 100,000 people visit annually. That says a lot because West Bend isn’t near a major city. Des Moines, the state’s largest city, is more than a two-hour drive away. You have to want to visit the grotto to make the trip. Visiting the grotto has been high on our list since Lisa first showed me a photo of it. We’ve planned to visit a couple of times before, but always ran out of time. Not this time. We included it on our Iowa weekend trip.

Grotto of the Redemption
Father Dobberstein’s dream is a work of art

Was the drive worth it? You bet! It doesn’t matter if you’re religious, spiritual or not, the Grotto of Redemption is an architectural wonder. The design and presentation are impressive. Some publications have referred to it as “the eighth wonder of the world.” I’m not sure I’d go that far. But, I will say the Midwest is fortunate to have this beautiful attraction.

Walking around the grotto was like taking a Cliff’s Notes’ class on Catholicism (no insult intended). You start with a view of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Paradise. An angel watched over them, trying to lead them from going astray.

You then walk to a section featuring Jesus, Joseph and Mary in the manger. Take a few steps and you get to view the family during Jesus’ childhood years.

Grotto of the Redemption
Jesus’ life is told at the Grotto

As the savior matured, he shared his love for people and God with others.

Grotto of the Redemption
Jesus sharing his word

Eventually, as most of us know, life took a bad turn for the Child of God. As Judas sold him out to the Romans, Jesus was tried, convicted and sentenced to death.

Grotto of the Redemption
Judas, after he had betrayed Jesus to the Romans

The grotto marks Jesus’ walk to execution via the 12 Stations of the Cross. Each station is recognized along a path.

Grotto of the Redemption
One of the Stations of the Cross

Jesus’ crucifixion is symbolized at the end of the Stations.

Grotto of the Redemption
The Crucifixion of Jesus

A room in the grotto shows an empty tomb, with an angel nearby. “He has arisen” is written below the angel.

Grotto of the Redemption
Jesus’ tomb is empty after his rise to heaven

Mary holds her son at the foot of a cross at the peak of the grotto. The Grotto of Redemption does an outstanding job in honoring the life of Jesus, and, in the end, Mary. Father Dobberstein respected Mary by honoring the life of her son.

Grotto of the Redemption
Mary and her son

Outside the grotto is a church. In its courtyard stands a statue of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus.

Grotto of the Redemption
Statue in the courtyard

Father Dobberstein is enshrined with a statue on the grotto’s grounds. The piece features him holding a stone and a small hammer near the grotto.

Grotto of the Redemption
Statue of Father Dobberstein

A trip to the Grotto of the Redemption is well worth the drive to West Bend. Admission is a free will donation. Sometimes, you have to take the drive off the beaten path to find some true gems. The grotto is one such attraction.

For more information on the Grotto of the Redemption, please visit www.westbendgrotto.com.