AFFORDABLE FUN—QUARRY TOUR & FACTORY TOUR
(Our Quarry Was Featured In The 2009 Star Trek Movie)
Dear Visitor to Vermont:
Central Vermont was built upon the granite industry, the offspring of pure Yankee tenacity and immigrant fortitude. Rock of Ages, founded by two native Vermonters and one Scotsman, epitomizes the rich cultural heritage of Barre, Vermont. Rock of Ages represents a living industry, not a museum or showcase, but a working, breathing entity that gives rise to some of the finest artistry in stone that our guests have ever seen.
We invite you and your family to experience Rock of Ages. Our narrated caravan tours take you to the world’s largest deep-hole, dimension granite quarry—a quarry nearly 600 feet deep! Peer into its depths; observe our quarriers as they cut blocks from the sheer face and see the mighty steel derricks that tower above the surface and which are capable of lifting up to 250 tons.
Our artisans will amaze you when you take our self-guided factory tour. From hand pitching to laser etching, the factory tour allows you to observe the oldest and the latest: hand dressing and sculpting techniques that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries juxtaposed against modern circular diamond saws and laser etchers.
Once you’ve toured the quarry and factory, then bowl on our outdoor granite lane, watch our video, explore our exhibits and browse our gift shop, featuring Vermont-made granite gifts, Vermont specialty foods, clothing and souvenirs.
The Visitors Center is open May 16-October 31, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Visitors Center and all of our tour and factory operations are closed on July 4th.
Tours of the quarrying operations consist of a guided caravan trip to the world’s largest dimension granite quarry—nearly six hundred feet in depth! Learn about the equipment and methods used to extract granite as you watch our skilled quarriers cutting the stone. You may even chance to see a giant block of granite being hoisted from the quarry depths by a mammoth derrick! These tours operate Monday-Saturday from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend to mid-October. (Closed July 4) The guided tour runs Monday-Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Although our quarriers typically work weekdays only (They do not work holiday and vacation days but tours operate) and end their work day at 3:30 p.m., the site is impressive; and we believe you will enjoy your tour whatever day you come. However, to see the quarry in operation, you must take a tour on a weekday before 3:30 p.m. (Please see Tours.rockofages.com for departure times.) The cost of the tour is just $5.00 per adult, $4.50 per senior adult (62 and older) and $2.50 per child (6-13). Children 5 and under are admitted for free.
Free self-guided tours of our 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility are available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Closed holidays and vacation days) From an elevated platform, you may view our skilled artisans as they perform a variety of finish operations, including design layout for the sand-carving process, dimension cutting of the stone and polishing of the stone. Additionally, master sculptors may be seen as they create statuary and other hand-carved features.
We are conveniently located just a few miles off Interstate 89, exit 6, allowing easy access. While in the Barre area, please plan to visit Hope Cemetery, an outdoor showcase of memorial art, featuring such unusual pieces as a racecar, biplane and soccer ball. Also nearby are great recreation trails for hiking and biking: Millstonehill.com, then select “Touring Center”. We are close to several other popular Vermont attractions, including the state Capital, Montpelier, Morse Farm, Bragg Farm, Fairbanks Museum, Ben & Jerry’s and the Stowe resort area, and the Burlington/Lake Champlain region. We are only 185 miles from Boston and just 160 miles from Montreal. We hope that you will make Rock of Ages a part of your next trip or vacation. It’s sure to be a fun-filled adventure for every member of the family. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us toll free at 866-748-6877 or visit our website: Tours.rockofages.com for travel information or to select from a variety of Vermont-made granite gifts from our on-linestore.
Sincerely,
Todd Paton
Director of Visitor Services
As seen on the History Channel’s Modern Marvels and the Travel Channel’s Made In America.
Yankee Travel Guide to New England Editors’ Pick as “Best Stone Show” 2014
Editors’ pick as one of the best attractions in Vermont, Vermont Magazine 1998
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