No, not the grunge band, the actual place. Yes, it is a real place. It was there long before the band.
You can’t actually get that close to it any more. It’s on the NOAA reservation on Lake Washington. You can, however, get close enough in Magnison Park to hear it and see it.
It consists of about a dozen tall, stantions with movable, acoustic “wings” that catch the wind.
The wind had died down when we got there, so it wasn’t very loud. It sounds like whale song. As the wind picked up it got louder, and the pitch rose. It’s so sensitive that it makes noise even when the air seems calm.
There’s a little stream along the fence, so the babble of the water was a lovely counterpoint to the wind music.
We had to walk about a mile from the boat ramps to the dog park. There’s no way to drive there on the park side, which is actually a good thing. Of course, it was full dark when we got to the boat ramp but, the the path was paved, and there was enough light reflected off the lake from the east side to see by. It was kinda romantic…
It just isn’t something you see and hear every day (unless, of course, you work for NOAA)
Did they gate NOAA property all the way round? We used to park in the park, walk down towards the water, over the Moby Dick bridge and follow the trail up to the Sound Garden.
It would be sad if they blocked it off.
I think it’s open in the summer, its all blocked off now, I think due to water hazards.
Here’s a link to the Magnuson park web site that tells about Sound Garden
That link posts back to this thread
Sorry about that I was reading two threads at once Here is the Magnuson Park link. :rolleyes:
according to the link you posted “Due to security concerns”
bummer
I’ve never heard of this place! Now I must go there!
Let’s wait until we don’t have to hike through the swamp, 'k? Then I’ll be glad to take you there! 
Analogue Skywalker, I didn’t see that, but it doesn’t surprise me. There’s more government stuff back there than just NOAA. There are three big office buildings back there, that can only be seen from the lake.
The last time we were at Magnusson Park was about 7 or 8 years ago. We didn’t know about the Sound Garden then. We didn’t walk around much; we just had a nice time watching the parasailers practice their take-offs and landings on the big hill just north of the marsh.
Now that I live in the south end, I doubt I’ll get that way much anymore since I don’t drive. But if I’m with someone up that way I hope we can go see it!
It really is cool. With a light breeze different towers make different sounds. The sounds surrounds you.
It sounds like blowing along the top of a bottle - but picture the bottle being 10-15 feet tall. Each tower is tuned differently.
As the towers swing around towards the wind they groan. That’s the only way I can explain it. It’s not really a squeek, but it does sound like some oil is needed somewhere.
When the wind picks up and all the towers start to play, it really is something. Beautiful yet haunting.
It is one of my favourite man-made places.
If I ever get the right property I’m building one of these things.
I think it sounds a bit like whale song.
Tikki, when the weather warms up, you can come up, we’ll drag Anastasaeon out to lunch, then go to the Sound Garden.
Then you both can come meet the kitties.
I live just a mile or so from the park.
That would be a nice outing. My Dad and I work in Ballard very near the Bardahl sign. I’m only on call there so if its a weekday (M-Th) that I’m not working, I could bum a ride with him and meet up with Anastasaeon on Market Street and we could head out there. That’s if she’s up for that. Or I could hop a bus up your way sometime.
What I like about Magnusson Park is that you can look across Lake Washington and the opposite shore seems so close. It sets a pretty scene with all the sailboats and people out on the water on a sunny day. Denny Park, across the way, is a nice place to watch the fun too. We’re so lucky to have so many wonderful parks and public places around here but the Sound Garden is unique among them.
And a well kept secret. I only found out about it 4 years ago. I’ve met very few people who’ve even heard of it.
I wonder how something so cool came to be on a federal reservation.
If I recall back in the 80’s they put a 3 or 4 things on that site with a grant of some sort. The Sound Garden, the Moby Dick bridge and a couple others scattered about.
I think the first time I heard of this place was in 1984. By '85 it was common stomping grounds for me and my friends. We’d spend hours out there on warm summer nights.
BTW: I just found the sound garden on Google Earth
47°41’7.94"N 122°14’59.60"W
(you can copy/paste that into location and it will take you there)
It’s a pretty good image.