Crystal Shrine Grotto

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.

If you’re ever wondering about what to do on a dull afternoon, this is it! Though the cave is located in a cemetery and features art depicting the life of Jesus, you don’t have to be religious to enjoy the experience! It’s quite pretty and so very unexpected.
This cemetery has some beautiful garden areas and the cave is sort of the whimsical icing on the cake. It’s great to check out the guest book and see out of towners who’ve stopped by. There is a bit of a moldy smell, but I guess that’s just spelunking for you!

I found out about this by Googling «unique Memphis attractions», and I am so glad I took the time to find it! What a fascinating place! An employee of Memorial Park even gave us a free tour. Take the time to find this hidden gem!

Little cave with lots of art work. Don’t get your hopes up for greatness. Just a calm and relaxing place.

This is a must see for anyone in Memphis. It is truly a peaceful and serene experience.

Such a unique place. We had my (12-​year-​old) brother in law in town visiting, and I thought this might be a fun place to check out. We’d never been there before, and my husband didn’t even know what it was when I mentioned it. They both thought I was crazy for wanting to go to the cemetery. Little Brother LOVED it! He Instagrammed everything, so it was a success!

**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.

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.

The Memorial Park in general was beautiful. Great place to take your camera and take pictures. The grotto from the inside out was gorgeous. It seems odd there is a cave in the middle of a cemetery, but I wont complain. Check it out if you have the chance.

How beautiful is this grotto, man made crystal cave. I have added photos, but you really need to see it in person to realize the workmanship. There is a water fountain by the main road and at the base, close to the water, my extremely lovely wife pointed out the faces carved. Tried to capture the image on my phone, but hard to do.

This is such a neat place for Memphians and tourists. Even on a hot day it’s cool inside the grotto. You can feed the fish if the front office is open to give you food. It’s a great, albeit a little strange, place to take pictures.
It’s a quirky hidden gem in Memphis that you shouldn’t miss!

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.

Call me creepy, call me morbid, call me what you will, but I have planned a few trips in a my life solely on the basis of paying respects to dead people. I also think the site
has had a large say in that. For once, this visit was not to see a dead person!
I had heard that within the confines of Memphis Memorial Park holds the worlds only man made crystal cave. Personally, I am a big fan of caves and shit. I mean going to Mammoth Cave as a kid and seeing all of the cool geological wonders that it has, well its fascinating. So when I heard there was something like that in Memphis, I had to check it out!
So I pulled my roomie aside (who, is an atheist, mind you), and we decided to check it out, as the place looked empty, and its free to check out. When you pull up, you can tell it is man made, but it whimsical– it almost looks like a magical hideout where the Smurfs or Keebler Elves went to chill. There is a pond (stocked with fish and frogs), beautiful landscape, and plenty of rocks that all flow well together. There are plenty of benches, and places to just sit and relax, and then upon looking closer– is the entrance to the grotto.
Upon entering the actual cave, there is a large visitors book you can sign, and gives you a brief history. Watch your head if you are tall, hitting your head on that shit hurts! Walking from left to right, there are all of these depictions of Christ doing all sorts of stuff. I was kind of on the «I am in the cave alone with another tall dude, this is kinda out of place» vibe, so I didn’t really stick long.
I was in awe the fact this was all man made, and how trippy it was at the same time. Just being able to see it was an honor, and I am still trying to piece it all together. A must see, for anyone in town, just to say you have been there.

Fabulous little find! We got the grand tour from a knowledgable cemetery employee who also gave my girls fish food for the pond. Bring a picnic and enjoy a little serenity in the city.

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.

If you ever make a road trip to Memphis… Please, just skip everything (except for the BBQ) and go to the Crystal Shrine Grotto first. I don’t even need to explain anything else.

Great weather today. Dreamy harp music playing. Real fun. I’m spending a day in Memphis and out of all the places I’ve seen or planned on, this one is at the top of my list.

Son: Mom, don’t forget, we need to see the Jesus cave before we go back to California.
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I was so focused on squeezing in Graceland, I nearly forgot about making time to detour so we could check out the Jesus cave, or «Crystal Shrine Grotto.»
I like quirky things. I’m born and raised in the SF Bay Area, so I suppose this fact is practically synonymous for us natives. Once in Seattle, we made time to visit the troll who lives under the bridge. Like the Jesus cave, this is another must see, if you ask me.
The cave wasn’t as small as we expected. And, we didn’t need flashlights. In fact, I have no idea how we ever even came up with that idea. From downtown Memphis, it’s about a 20 minute drive, easy to find and only takes about 15 minutes to explore. Oh, and best of all, it is FREE.
My closing suggestion is to always check «local flavor» when Unilocaling a new city you’ll be visiting. You are sure to find stuff there that wouldn’t turn up on Yahoo travel, or other like sites.
Amen.

It feels a bit odd to be reviewing the Crystal Shrine Grotto, mainly because it is inside of Memorial Park Cemetary, but it is such a cool, little area that I’m not sure a lot of Memphians even know about.
The area surrounding the grotto is beautiful, with lush plants, a small lake and a few benches for outfoor seating. I’ve seen so many professional photographs taken here– not just of the area, but of children posed in front of the area, or couples hugging and smiling in front of the area. This is a beautiful backdrop for photos, and many Memphis photographers seem to agree.
The shrine itself is kind of magical. A little world of its own inside the crystal and wood, with depictions of Jesus’ life sculpted throughout.

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.