I recently visited Opus 40, a truly remarkable sculpture park in Saugerties, NY that rises up out of an abandoned quarry. It is truly something that is hard to believe, without seeing for yourself, but the entire 6 acre site was constructed by the sculptor Harvey Fite. Built by hand over decades Opus 40 consists of a series of paths, pools, and ramps, carved and constructed out of native bluestone.
I came to Opus 40 for a class on building stacked stone walls (read about this class here) and had a few hours to explore after the class was finished.
It is not a overstatement that in many ways Opus 40 can be compared to some of the great wonders of the world (it has been called the Stonehenge of North America). The central focus is a massive stone spire that sits in the center and frames the stacked layers of the sculptural passageways and amphitheater of bluestone.
In addition to the sculptural main attraction, the Opus 40 grounds have the original house that Harvey Fite built by hand in the 1930s, as well as a museum that has a collection of traditional masonry tools.
Know before you go
- The Opus 40 sculpture itself is created entirely of bluestone and there are areas that can be wet or slippery from the ponds and other water features. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are recommended.
- Opus 40 hosts frequent classes, workshops, and events including nature walks, stone work classes (like the one I took on building stone walls), and yoga/body movement. See here.
- Picnicking is allowed and there is a small cafe onsite.
- The sculpture is currently undergoing a phased rehabilitation to preserve and protect and restore areas that have begun to decay (so some areas may be temporarily closed).
- The “Fite House” was recently purchased by the not-for-profit that owns Opus 40 and is undergoing a significant restoration.
- No pets allowed (other than service animals)
Follow our exploration of the area around our Home in the Hudson Valley including favorite day trips and excursions an easy drive from New York City with more posts from Hudson Valley Home
[…] For the class, we worked to build a retaining wall set into a hillside in a wooded area of the Opus 40 grounds. As a former quarry, the site was overflowing with flat bluestone rocks, just waiting to be assembled like a puzzle into a strong and durable wall. For more on visiting Opus 40 see here. […]