Windsor, Ohio in Northeast Ohio’s Geauga County contains an unusual attraction most people don’t know about: the world’s largest of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico, located on a sprawling, 50-acre farm property less than an hour drive from Cleveland.
The 50-foot statue featuring 450,000 mosaic faces a small lake, called the Lake of Hope, surrounded by a lighted rosary. In front of the statue are benches, kneelers and shelves where visitors can reflect, pray and leave candles and other offerings. Not surprisingly, many are in Spanish, and Spanish seemed to be the language spoken by most of the visitors we encountered.
The property also features a large chapel, a gift store, and a renovated stable and banquet hall which can be booked for weddings and other special events. Statues of various signs are scattered around the property; see if you can find your favorite. Admission is free, although they greatly appreciate donations (the facility was built with private money and is privately owned and operated, with no connections to a church).
View the PHOTOSTREAM here.
