holland's family cheese

For $2 a school tour gets you an up close and personal tour of the facility and the people behind the running of this business. From the info. inside the main building and watching and learning through the windows at the workers and the process, to the gift area and sitting area with fireplace it's top rate. Step outside and to the barn for another tour of the animals and how the operation is run and set up. Marieke and her staff gave a fine tour. The owners/workers love of their jobs/business is apparent through the care of the animals and great facility, as well as personable staff. Samples of cheese were included on the tour and the award winning gouda is worth a taste. If you don't do a school tour I believe regular tours are $10/person. Otherwise just enjoy the gift shop and viewing windows. There's a great variety of worthwhile purchases to be made there. With a tour enjoy for 1-2 hrs. without a tour less than an hour, just stop in, check it out and enjoy. While in Thorp don't miss the cows around town, dine at the Thorpedo and if you come at the right time of the year visit the Historical Museum in town. In addition to the history of the Thorp area it houses a fantastic telephone museum that is fascinating.

Holland Family Cheese recently opened their new facility just off Hwy 29 at the Thorp exit. The giant cow statue is your tip-off that you have arrived! The new facility is fantastic and spacious, with informational displays about the cheese-making process, comfortable seating areas, delicious cheese, authentic foods imported from Holland, fresh ice cream and coffee, and a delightful fireplace seating area. Large windows give you a view into the cheese curing room. I happened to show up during the cheese-making process, so I was able to watch through other large windows as workers made the cheese and then cleaned the equipment. The cheese itself is award-winning, with the Golden gouda being my favorite.

Stumbled across this fabulous little cheese shop in the middle of Wisconsin. Just off of WI-29 is a huge dairy barn, with the milk piped straight across to the next building, where it is transformed into cheese! Tours of both the barn & the cheese making process are available.The store also sells cheese, butter, sausages, wine, & other goodies from other local businesses.