The Freedom Rock, an enormous granite boulder out in the middle of Iowa painted with realistic military murals on three sides, seems so unbelievable that it is listed on snopes.com. But unlike most of the urban legends and myths clarified on the site, the existence of this rock is true.

“I have been to the Freedom Rock,” says Jessica O’Riley, communications manager for the Iowa tourism office.

“It’s incredible. It’s a wonderful tribute to our armed forces, and I think it’s just a great place for people to visit and reflect on the service of our soldiers.”

The “rock” weighs approximately 56 tons and is 12 feet high and sits one mile south of Interstate 80 near Greenfield, Iowa. It originally came from the Schillberg Rock Quarry, says Margie Moore, innkeeper of the Brass Lantern at Windcrest Farm, a bed and breakfast in the area. Up until 11 years ago, she says it was known as a graffiti rock where kids would write things like Mary loves Joe. But then 19-year-old Ray Michael Sorenson II, known as “Bubba,” decided to paint it white.

“Being a small town, there was all this talk about how he painted it white,” Ms. Moore laughs.

Inspired by the movie “Saving Private Ryan” and a concern over the lack of patriotism, Mr. Sorenson then painted a mural depicting patriotic scenes with soldiers from every branch of the service.

“He said we owe our freedom to all of these soldiers,” she says. “He wanted to express his gratitude.”

So every Memorial Day, Mr. Sorenson paints a new mural. People come from all over the United States and foreign countries to see it. There are photos of murals from years past nearby and a guest book for visitors to sign. And it has turned into something much more than a painted rock. Ms. Moore says a family of a deceased Vietnam veteran came to visit the rock carrying an urn with ashes of their son. They wanted to scatter the ashes around the rock, but it was too windy. So Mr. Sorenson, who was painting at the time, put the ashes in the paint so they would be affixed there forever.

“You come away feeling as though you were at somewhere sacred,” Ms. Moore says.

Greenfield is a two-hour drive from St. Joseph. Visitors often stay at the Brass Lantern, which is an attraction all its own. The innkeepers live in a farm house on the 20-acre property, and guests stay in a 4,100-square-foot poolhouse which has a 40-foot indoor heated designer pool. There are only two guest rooms, but plenty of places to relax, swim and eat the five-course breakfast.

Ms. Moore says you also will want to visit the Iowa Aviation Museum nearby. It has 15 early aircraft, including one-of-a-kind models and two military aircraft on display. Other popular attractions are The Bridges of Madison County, the birthplace of John Wayne and the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. For more attractions and information on the Freedom Rock, call the Iowa Tourism office (515) 725-3085, The Brass Lantern (641) 743-203 or visit www.ibbg.com/brasslantern.htm, seedesmoines.com and traveliowa.com.

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com