An eccentric inventor had dreams of splendor for a rocky island out in the cold waters of Lake Michigan. It could have been an opulent home, a 100-room hotel, and an exclusive private retreat — but you know what they say about the best laid plans. The dreams of Chester Thordarson didn’t quite come true, but the remains of what he did built on Wisconsin’s Rock Island are simply incredible. Get your ferry ticket and camera – here’s what’s waiting for you when you visit this abandoned estate in Door County’s Rock Island.

Rock Island is now a Wisconsin state park – you can reach it by taking a ferry to Washington Island and then a second ferry to Rock Island. The island has an old lighthouse and is laced with hiking trails and dotted with a small collection of campsites, but it’s essentially undeveloped. Vehicles are not allowed. Learn more on the state park’s website. There are a lot of unusual historic landmarks in Wisconsin that are just waiting to be discovered on a road trip – here are some you’ll want to visit.