About This Event
Join us for the first installment of our new science lecture series, exploring the story of rock with two of the Hudson Valley’s most engaging geologists. Set on the grounds of Spiral House Park, this program invites you to experience the landscape through a geological lens, uncovering the ancient forces that shaped the land beneath our feet.
The day includes a guided walk through the park’s trails, followed by a lecture exploring related themes in greater depth. Together, these offerings provide both an in-field and classroom-style experience of the region’s geological history.
RAIN DATE: Sunday, May 17th
Meet Dr. Titus, a leading geologist of the Catskills region, returns to Spiral House Park to guide this walk through deep time. Drawing from decades of research and writing, he will share the story of the Catskills Delta during the Devonian period as it is revealed through the park’s landscape. This walk offers both scientific insight and engaging storytelling.
Meet Becky Nesel a local Science Communicator, Geologist, and Naturalist with a passion for teaching her community about the beauty of our natural world.
Program Schedule:
- 10 – 11:30 am | Rock Solid Stories: A Walk Through Geological Time – with Bob Titus
- 12:30 – 2 pm | Rock Lecture – with Becky Nesel
- All Day – Kids Activity Table: Rock Painting – A hands-on creative space for younger visitors, led by Suzi Miranda. Free and open throughout the event!
Tickets:
- ALL DAY PASS: $45
- Rock Solid Stories: A Walk Through Geological Time – with Bob Titus $25
- Rock Lecture – with Becky Nesel $25
50% Discount Code for Children Under 10: KIDS2026
15% Discount Code for Members, Students, Seniors, Veterans, and Neighbors: MSSVN26
About Spiral House Park
Located in the Hudson Valley between Woodstock and Saugerties, the Park is home to Tom Gottsleben's stone and crystal glass sculpture and a house that spirals five stories to form a bluestone nautilus with magnificent views of the Catskill range. The site features extensive mixed native and traditional ornamental gardens and trails that wind through woodlands and abandoned stone quarries.
Gottsleben's art was inspired by nature's art, the fundamental patterns of life. The intersection of art and nature that informed the creation of the property also informs the mission of our nonprofit organization: to enable visitors to experience a sense of wonder in art and nature, and to create programming that supports and transforms the way we see and care for the Earth.
Woodland Trails
Our 1.7 miles of family-friendly trails are designed as interconnected loops, allowing visitors to create walks of varying length and difficulty. These paths lead through the former quarries where stone was gathered to build the sculptures and the Spiral House, past notable geological features, through varied forest habitats, and to scenic overlooks that invite you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the landscape.
For the 2026 season, our trails are open Saturdays and Sundays (hours vary by season, and are always noted on our home page). Entry is free to SHP members.
The Spiral House
The centerpiece of the 45-acre park is the five-story Spiral House, designed by artist Tom Gottsleben as the home he shared with his wife, Patty Livingston. The house literally grows out of the land. Sited on what was a chaotic heap of rubble from the abandoned bluestone quarry, the spiral walls gave the stone a new home with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape.
The curves of the house follow the golden proportions of the nautilus shell. Different from every perspective, the walls and roofline turn in a dynamic sweep around the central column. Wherever you stand, there is both movement and stillness.
Inside, the house reveals an exquisite world of sculptural detail.
The Spiral House is open by pre-registration for guided tours and special events throughout our open season (April-November).
About This Event
Join us for the first installment of our new science lecture series, exploring the story of rock with two of the Hudson Valley’s most engaging geologists. Set on the grounds of Spiral House Park, this program invites you to experience the landscape through a geological lens, uncovering the ancient forces that shaped the land beneath our feet.
The day includes a guided walk through the park’s trails, followed by a lecture exploring related themes in greater depth. Together, these offerings provide both an in-field and classroom-style experience of the region’s geological history.
RAIN DATE: Sunday, May 17th
Meet Dr. Titus, a leading geologist of the Catskills region, returns to Spiral House Park to guide this walk through deep time. Drawing from decades of research and writing, he will share the story of the Catskills Delta during the Devonian period as it is revealed through the park’s landscape. This walk offers both scientific insight and engaging storytelling.
Meet Becky Nesel a local Science Communicator, Geologist, and Naturalist with a passion for teaching her community about the beauty of our natural world.
Program Schedule:
- 10 – 11:30 am | Rock Solid Stories: A Walk Through Geological Time – with Bob Titus
- 12:30 – 2 pm | Rock Lecture – with Becky Nesel
- All Day – Kids Activity Table: Rock Painting – A hands-on creative space for younger visitors, led by Suzi Miranda. Free and open throughout the event!
Tickets:
- ALL DAY PASS: $45
- Rock Solid Stories: A Walk Through Geological Time – with Bob Titus $25
- Rock Lecture – with Becky Nesel $25
50% Discount Code for Children Under 10: KIDS2026
15% Discount Code for Members, Students, Seniors, Veterans, and Neighbors: MSSVN26
About Spiral House Park
Located in the Hudson Valley between Woodstock and Saugerties, the Park is home to Tom Gottsleben's stone and crystal glass sculpture and a house that spirals five stories to form a bluestone nautilus with magnificent views of the Catskill range. The site features extensive mixed native and traditional ornamental gardens and trails that wind through woodlands and abandoned stone quarries.
Gottsleben's art was inspired by nature's art, the fundamental patterns of life. The intersection of art and nature that informed the creation of the property also informs the mission of our nonprofit organization: to enable visitors to experience a sense of wonder in art and nature, and to create programming that supports and transforms the way we see and care for the Earth.
Woodland Trails
Our 1.7 miles of family-friendly trails are designed as interconnected loops, allowing visitors to create walks of varying length and difficulty. These paths lead through the former quarries where stone was gathered to build the sculptures and the Spiral House, past notable geological features, through varied forest habitats, and to scenic overlooks that invite you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the landscape.
For the 2026 season, our trails are open Saturdays and Sundays (hours vary by season, and are always noted on our home page). Entry is free to SHP members.
The Spiral House
The centerpiece of the 45-acre park is the five-story Spiral House, designed by artist Tom Gottsleben as the home he shared with his wife, Patty Livingston. The house literally grows out of the land. Sited on what was a chaotic heap of rubble from the abandoned bluestone quarry, the spiral walls gave the stone a new home with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape.
The curves of the house follow the golden proportions of the nautilus shell. Different from every perspective, the walls and roofline turn in a dynamic sweep around the central column. Wherever you stand, there is both movement and stillness.
Inside, the house reveals an exquisite world of sculptural detail.
The Spiral House is open by pre-registration for guided tours and special events throughout our open season (April-November).