I didn't originally have this one on my list of touristy attractions in Memphis, but I wish I would have put it up near the top. I love visiting these unique art installations throughout the US, which are sometimes in the most unusual locations. Painstakingly built over 45 years, and some say they are still adding to it...this is a must visit on your next trip. It takes about 20-30 mins to see it all. If you stop to take photos everywhere then add more time. read more

Beautiful day nature sun views beauty around serenity beautiful Take a pict on the bridge or right beside it Take a pic by the waters edge read more

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Unique little shrine within the cemetery. Beautifully decorated and clean. A must see while we traveled through Memphis read more

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The most stunning place I have ever seen. It is well worth a visit from the peaceful sounds of the water to the inside of the shrine absolutely stunning. read more

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You will find this place tucked away in Memorial Park Cemetery. It was a bit difficult for me to find at first, because the directions on Yelp took me to a different part of the cemetery. I pulled it up on Google maps and it took me right there. If you are by a big hallowed out tree that you can walk through then you are in the right place. It is also located across from Issac Hayes's grave site. It was the brain child of Elliot Clovis Hinds, who sold his life insurance company to build the cemetery the grotto is located. He built the spot with the goal of making visitors to his cemetery feel better about death. This is a unique spot that is meant to elevate your spiritual thoughts. It dates back to the 1930s and consists of a man-made cave with crystal formations and biblical scenes reenacted with ceramic figures. Some of the images from the life of Christ, which have been added on through the years, include the Last Supper, the Nativity, the Resurrection and the Transfiguration. I got a kick out of the baby Jesus in the nativity scene. I was just an old doll baby that you could get from Big Lots. There was a rumor that people kept stealing the original Baby Jesus statues, so that is what they went with. However, I could not verify that. It is an eclectic set-up and is commonly referred to as trippy. The cave is relatively dim, but has some colored lighting to add to the affect. It is traditional for visitors to leave a personal item there as an offering to receive favor and blessing. I did not have any thing with me that I could leave so, I guess I did not get my blessing. This grotto is a testament to persistance. It took about 45 years to be completed and is probably still been modified and added to. This oddity is a very nice place to visit while in Memphis. I spent about 20 minutes here. Parking here was very easy. I just parked right across the road from it. I recommend checking it out, if you are in the area. read more

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Atlas Obscura sent us here. I was shocked at what an incredible experience. Ok, the cemetery was just pretty awesome in its own right, but this grotto inside was on a whole other level of awesome. Inside is man made crystal cave with statues depicting the life of Christ. Check out the year each of the sections was created. This took years. On our way to the grotto we stopped at a beautiful mausoleum. Directly across was the grave of Issac Hayes, music artist and actor. Other graves were so interesting that we just kept searching for more. So much to appreciate. read more

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This is one of Memphis' "hidden gems" as this is in the middle of Memorial Park Cemetery. It's a bit tricky to find, as there are no signs that point to it within the graveyard. So you gotta rely on GPS or Google Maps. But once you're there, you gotta check it out. At the time of my visit, there was going to be a small wedding to be going on. It is brief going inside the grotto, checking out the magnificent art. It is all religion-based, so please keep an open mind. Not too far (as in within walking distance), be sure to check out Isaac Hayes' final resting place, as it faces the entrance of the grotto. read more

Very cool spot, amazing that the artist was able to accomplish the structures at the time and with those tools. The way the light from the windows lights up all that quarts is quite a sight. I recommend a quick trip (only takes about 15 minutes) to look at the sculptures and iconography from Dionicio Rodríguez and multiple other artists. The cemetery has a lot of very interesting people interred as well. Tip- the grotto is across the road from Isaac Hayes's grave, in the center of Memphis' Memorial Park Cemetery. read more

Free and eye catching! This was an absolute hidden gem and would go back again in a heart beat. Since it is underground the temperature is perfect year round. Perfect for anyone that enjoys artwork especially Christian based faith. read more

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Atlas Obscura has the Crystal Shrine Grotto written on their Memphis list so it hit my list! Crystal Shrine is in the upscale Memorial cemetery. I plugged it into the GPS but there are signs in the cemetery as well. Park the car. Walk along the little wooden bridge. Walk through the tree carving (just walk through- how many times are you hanging in the cemetery?) You will see the opening to the grotto. Step in, sign the guestbook and take in the little obscure religious shrine nestled away here. The lights enhance the experience, the crystals are big and small along with religious depictions of Jesus's life. Whether you are religious or not it is a sight to see. There is the natural art, carved wooden art and sand art. On the walk out, feel free to leave a penny as many observers do on a little shelf. Upon leaving, cross the street and a few steps down to your left will be Isaac Hayes gravesite. His tombstone is beautifully etched with beautiful moments of his life. Please bring a flower or something for good ol' Isaac. When I went he was the only grave site without flowers and I am sure a lot of people stop here to pay homage. Shaft deserves it. read more

Crystal Shrine Grotto - Local Flavor Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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When people think of Memphis it is usually BBQ, Elvis, or Blues that come to mind... rarely does anyone think: 'Cave of Crystals'. If the name 'Crystal Shrine Grotto' does not intrigue you then I can't imagine what could ... perhaps knowing that this strange little place was created by an Aztec descendant within the sprawling grounds of 'Memorial Park Cemetery' would add to its 'quirky' factor. Crystal Shrine Grotto was built by artist Dionicio Rodriguez and completed around 1938. Rodriquez was said to be a descendant of the artistic Aztec race of Mexico. The Tree like stump you enter though is actually made of concrete and bars. The Cave itself looks remarkably like a wizard's old weathered pointy hat. Within the grotto cavern you will find yourself surrounded by rock quartz crystal and semi-precious stones that were shipped to this location by the artist; and eery harp music that just may give you goosebumps (or perhaps that is the very noticeable chilly air). The crystals and and concrete form alcoves housing illustrations, abstracts, and dioramas of the artist's version of: "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection." Rodriguez was a self-taught sculptor who specialized in cement sculptures that appear to be natural wood and stone. I have actually visited his other beautiful work at Old Mill Park in North Little Rock, AR (the Old Mill - seen in the opening scenes of Gone With The Wind), another must not miss spot of Roadside America. Outside of the grotto you will find a peaceful garden spot on one side where you can sit on a log curved bench in tranquil silence. On the other side you will find a reflective pool - with rust colored tiered fountain; home to bright coy fish, turtles, and fantastic croaking frogs (this time of year lots of tadpoles). Around the area you may discover whimsical over-sized toadstools, chairs and large bridges from pretend stumps and trees, and surprise sculptures that seem to strangely belong. For a moment you could even perhaps believe yourself in some sort of whimsical land where you may just spot a nymph. **Interesting Fact** Nearly directly across from the Crystal Shrine Grotto you will find the final resting place of Isaac Hayes and Jay Reatard (a personal little known favorite singer of mine). The Crystal Shrine Grotto is kinda weird, peacefully beautiful, sort of strange, perhaps whimsical, very quirky, a little creepy, and one of my favorite spots in Memphis. read more

This was surprisingly more of a highlight to my Memphis trip than I'd thought it would be. For me, Crystal Shrine Grotto was more exciting than Beale Street, more viscerally touching than Graceland, more interesting than the Pyramid, and more peaceful than the Memphis Botanic Gardens. I am not very religious, and having grown up Quaker, the Jesus story was really not emphasized as it is for most other Christian religions. So while I'm familiar with the stories behind the religious imagery inside the cave, I found it more aesthetically pleasing and intellectually interesting than spiritual. For me, the crystals, the lights, the calm music playing outside, and the sense of peace there, was the metaphysical crux of my experience. This cave made me want to linger in the good vibes, relax, and absorb some positivity for my flight home. I definitely was so much more relaxed the rest of the day. My whole family felt the good vibrations here. Touch a few crystals if you can, use hand sanitizer after, but they're worth a touch! read more

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What a thoughtfully and beautifully designed area. The crystal cave is beautiful the biblical scenes crafted inside stunning. Words can not express how much went into creating such a beautiful place. The bridges the unique seating areas the beautiful flowers growing around and within the cross display.... The fountain all just stunning. read more

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The most interesting and decorative thing I have ever seen at a graveyard. Granted, I have not gone through many graveyards, but this is a must. read more

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This a nest place to visit. Quite unique and nice way to kick off the holiday season. The nearly 100 year old man-made cave is itself a work of art and is filled with sculptures from the 70s and 80s. It's also right across from Isaac Hayes' grave. The whole area surrounding it is quite cute with a fish pond, tree bridges, and other interesting details. read more

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Crystal Shrine Grotto (began in 1930s): The idea of Elliot Clovis Hinds, who sold his life insurance company to build Memorial Park Cemetery. He believed the graveyard should be filled with inspiring art, not tombstones to make visitors feel more at ease about death. The cave creator, Dionicio Rodriguez, was a self-taught Mexican sculptor who spoke no English. He specialized in creating cement sculptures simulating natural wood and stone. He spent 6 yrs digging a 60ft deep cavern, lining it with sculpted cement and 5 tons of quartz crystal. David Day added the final artwork in 1981, completing the project 46 yrs after Rodriguez began it. The shrine illustrates Christ's Journey from Birth to Resurrection. read more

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The cave is fun. There's just too many damn people and for what you're paying it's not worth it overall it was a good experience to go and have fun with my kids and check everything out, but if you're not around big groups of people don't go. read more

Awesome place to visit. Very detailed art. I found this place relaxing. Easy to find in the cemetery.

Beautiful place inside a very lovely cemetery. It was a little difficult to find, but it was worth the search! Free to get in. Please respect the area, the people resting here, and their families. read more

Crystal Shrine Grotto - The Crystal Shrine Grotto entrance - Local Flavor Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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The Crystal Shrine Grotto is located in the center of Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. It is free to visit and you can easily drive in to the cemetery and follow the signs to the grotto. The cave is filled with natural crystals hand placed onto the cave walls and ceiling and depicts portions of Christ's life from birth to ascension through handmade artwork. Those who enter the man made cave don't just see the dark beauty of the cave and its eclectic artwork they can feel its magical presence all around them. It is an extremely peaceful and reflective place on both the interior and exterior of the cave . On the outside you can sit in a man made hollowed out tree and enjoy the koi pond. All the features around and in the grotto depict events and places out of the Old and New Testaments. The Cave of Machpelah to the left of the Grotto is a depiction of the 1st tomb mentioned in The Bible, Genesis 23, as Abraham and Sarah's resting place. The Pool of Hebron( koi pond )and Abrahams Oak (man made hollowed out tree seat) invite visitors to explore the area and find the hidden faces, figures, and resting places the artist included in the naturalistic concrete to entertain visitors. The Crystal shrine grotto and surrounding area is a reminder that death is not the end an must be seen in person to fully appreciate and understand. read more

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Located inside the Memorial Park Cemetery, this made-made crystal cave (don't worry- it's above ground) includes art depicting the life of Christ. Allegorical in its placement amidst serene burial sites, the Gotto leaves visitors in awe of its creator's purpose. It's free to enter. Located inside the cemetery, amidst lovely landscaping, this one of a kind artwork is both historic and modern. Visit the grotto during daytime hours when weather is good. It does involve a very short walk up a stone path. read more

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The address takes you to the cemetery you can follow the signs to find the place. It is a small cave where you can see different depiction of Jesus's life. I spent like 10-15 min. It's free. There are other carvings out side with a nice pond and bridge to cross. read more

Crystal Shrine Grotto - Outside seating area carved from a tree - Local Flavor Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Yes, you can DRIVE right up to the Crystal Shrine Grotto & Koi Pond. Ethereal Piano Music plays as you approach this fascinating manmade Cave surrounded by the beautiful 54-acre Memorial Park Gardens. Enter & keep Left to view the Story of Christ in sequence. The stunning Interior features carved artforms of hanging crystal, quartz, & stone, collected from the Arkansas Ozarks. This rare structure was built by Senor Dionico Rodriguez, artist & sculptor from Mexico City. He also sculpted the concrete work on The Old Mill in North Little Rock, Arkansas. If you have Google Maps on your Smartphone, you will be directed to the CSG, which is located under the Stone Tower beside the Koi Pond, Rustic Footbridge, & Abraham's Tree. *30 minutes to 1 hour. *Near East Memphis Hotels. *20 minutes from Downtown. *Hours:: 8a-4p Daily. *Free to the Public. *Stop @ the Office for a Map & Free Fish food for the Koi. read more

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This is a HIDDEN GEM. It is free to enter. The Crystal Shrine Grotto is in the middle of a cemetery in a really nice part of Memphis. Any Christian would greatly enjoy this. read more

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beautiful amazing place must see if you are in memphis tenn was amazed this place is inside a cemetery read more

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This is in the middle of a cemetery. This is a unique spot & easy to get around. Very peaceful place & worth stopping in. read more

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Peaceful and reflective are not descriptive words that I typically use when talking about Memphis, but they absolutely fill the bill for this place. Sitting inside the cemetery and facing the main road you'll find the Crystal Shrine Grotto. I stopped at the main office to ask where to find it, and was overwhelmed when one of the employees offered to give me a private tour. I can't guarantee that you'll have the same experiences me, but it added an extra level of personal touch to my visit. The grotto space itself is incredibly spiritual, and the various murals and statues are all extremely well done. As others have mentioned stopping in is completely free, and highly recommended. You can bet your boots I'll be back someday! read more

**Sigh** so pretty. I've been to Memorial Park Cemetery a million times, but until recently I had only heard that Crystal Shrine Grotto was located there. I wasn't quite sure where (or what) it was...and now, thankfully, I know. I just wish I'd known sooner. Crystal Shrine Grotto was built by artist Dionicio Rodriguez in the 1930s and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a supercool handmade cave full of art and sculptures. There is a gorgeous pond at the entrance to the cave as well as a stump (Abraham's Oak) but the music coming from the cave took my breath away...it was unexpected, but very welcome. The grotto is full of rock quartz crystal and semiprecious stones as well as Biblical scenes. It has to be seen to believe. Very cool and like nothing else in Memphis. read more

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Amazing cool place to see. Weird location in a cemetery. I definitely highly recommend seeing it!

All the reviews of the grotto describe it very well. Very cool free spot to check out in Memphis! read more

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Deep inside the Memorial Park cemetery in East Memphis, there's a cave. The cave is called the Crystal Shrine Grotto. Walking into the grotto is a little intense. You enter through a little door on the front of the rock. The first thing you notice after your eyes adjust to the darkness is all of the crystals. They're everywhere - on the ceiling, rising from the floor, on the walls. The crystals form frames for large dioramas depicting the life of Christ. The Crystal Shrine Grotto was designed and built by sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez. It was completed in 1938. The collection of scenes from Jesus' life include all of the usual favorites (the Nativity, the Last Supper, the Resurrection), as well as some more obscure moments carved in rock quartz crystal, semi-precious stones and wood. The Grotto is open when the cemetery is, and the area around it is pretty - there are benches and a lake, and it's totally fine to take photos. Admission is free. read more

Crystal Shrine Grotto - Crytsal Shrine Grotto - Local Flavor Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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How did I live around Memphis my whole life and not know this place existed until a year or so ago? Please don't let that happen to you! This is an amazing little treasure hidden in Memorial Park Cemetery right on Poplar Avenue, just West of 240. After turning into the cemetery, you'll know when you've arrived at the grotto because of the old "tree" and bridge. This was built starting in 1935 by Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez, and after his death the work was finished by other artists. Walking into the cave, you can't help but notice all of the beautiful crystals covering the ceiling and walls. This place is absolutely breathtaking! The carvings and artwork inside the cave depict the life of Jesus Christ from the manger to the cross. It's not very large, but you can easily spend an hour there and not capture everything on the first visit. This is a place we took all of our out of town guests when they came to visit us, and they were all as awed by it as we are. It's absolutely free. Yes, free. One of the greatest words in the English language. It closes around dusk, so get there in plenty of time and take your camera. On a side note, while you're there, you may as well check out some of the famous graves in the cemetery, like Isaac Hayes, Sam Phillips and Rufus Thomas. read more

Ah-maz-ing! This place is such a hidden gem! Like literally it's hidden in the middle of a cemetery! I found this on a random blog while doing research of things to do in Memphis (aside from Graceland). I added it to my list & when I checked out of my hotel I decided to ask the front desk if it was worth the 20min drive out of my way. She hadn't heard of it & asked some colleagues. I was stunned that no one knew about it! The security guard said he was familiar with the cemetery and at least assured me it was safe to go to. We drove in & thanks to GPS pin point were able to find it. Even before going into the grotto it is beautiful!!! Now I will admit it was a little creepy going inside but once we walked into the grotto my breath was taken away by the stunning beauty! The colors & reflection of the morning light is just gorgeous! I didn't even realize before it was of religious origin which really added an extra special meaning. Each section depicts a time in the life of Jesus. This is a must stop for anyone in the area! read more

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I didn't realize this was separate from the Memorial Gardens so I never thought to leave a review. This little cave is beautiful. Kids love coming inside and looking at all the different artwork in various styles which depict the life of Christ. They also have cool lighting on each exhibit which is pretty cool. I only rated it 4 stars though because after you've seen it a few times it isn't a fun to go back. I still enjoy it but I've discovered everything about it that I ever will. read more

If you've found this review because you're planning a trip to Memphis and want to find some less obvious cool spots, then you've succeeded. This is it! What to expect: well, it's in a cemetery and it's free, so it's not a typical tourist destination. In fact, don't worry about meeting the tourist requirement; I don't think most locals know about this one. It's just pretty and unusual and a little historical. If you like these qualities in an attraction, then check it out. Like others have mentioned, there's a grotto that someone put a lot of work into with jesus memorabilia and crystals and a guest book. There's a sweet little garden and a reflection pool. I'd recommend bringing a picnic lunch and spending an hour here just taking fun pictures. read more

Crystal Shrine Grotto - reflection pool - Local Flavor Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Crystal Shrine Grotto is an elaborate, amazing labor of love. The man made crystal cave depicts portions of Christ's life, from birth to ascension, in the form of handmade artwork. The small cave has innumerable crystals and pieces of cut, decorative glass embedded in it's walls and ceiling. The aura of this place is peaceful and made me wish for a longer visit. The exterior has a pond filled with huge koi, a small arched footbridge, landscape, hollowed out (man made) tree seat, and more. This attraction sits inside of the Memorial Park Cemetery. The groundskeeping is phenomenal! I highly recommend this visit! read more

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Clearly the crown jewel of an eccentric career, this man-made crystal cave is one-of-a-kind in the way that only insane folk art of the Depression Era can be. It is a labor of love, with cement trees and logs, biblical references and spa music leading up to and and forming the entrance. You walk in to see huge quartz and glass crystals inlaid into the cave, and filigree of sorts in every nook and cranny, all of which serve as the framework for seven or eight vignettes by various artists depicting selected scenes from life and times of one J. Christ. It also appears that church services were held here at some point, with a hidden-in-plain-view confessional outside of the cave really putting a spooky bow on this darkly shining package. I'm not sure I'd call it relaxing, but it does drum up some strong pangs of eerie reverence, and one finds it hard to look away or leave, so meditative is a word that I'd use with caution. The Crystal Shrine Grotto absolutely takes you away from your worldly woes. You (I) may not understand it, but you won't forget it, I guarantee. read more

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This is a very unique part of Memphis and I highly recommend a visit! The cave was interest (but full of mosquitos so definitely were some insect repellent!) and the surrounding pond and garden was absolutely spectacular. read more

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So amazing!! Took me forever to find inside the cemetery but i was in awe of the inside.

An absolutely must! A little hard to find but very worth it. Captivating to walk through and see the art. read more

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