Stroll the Troll Capital of the World

Once you drive down Mount Horeb’s trollway, you’ll never wonder what makes this village the Troll Capital of the World again.

The residents of this Wisconsin small-town have embraced the Norweigan history by hosting cultural festivals, running specialty shops and, most notably, adopting a fun little folklore creature as their mascot. The main street of Mount Horeb, fondly referred to as the “Trollway”, is riddled with life-size trolls on the lawns of businesses and people’s homes.

Michael J. Feeney has been the village’s resident troll carver for years, and as the population of trolls grew, other area carvers have joined in to help keep the tradition going. Mike’s shop, The Wooden Chicken, is named for one of the first troll carvings he ever did — the Chicken Thief. This carving used to live on the Trollway with many of the other trolls, but has since moved into the Driftless Historium.

Driftless Historium:

The Driftless Historium should be your first stop if you’re interested in learning about the history of Mount Horeb and the Driftless region. Located right off Main Street and across the street from The Grumpy Troll, this building looks small, but it’s bigger on the inside. Open and free to the public, the museum store is a great stop for all your troll souvenirs and even an ice cream break. The ice cream is made be students at UW-Platteville, and occasionally they’ll even have a troll themed ice cream made especially for the historium!

The Community Education Room is also free to the public and often hosts art shows for the Mount Horeb public school district. The room is also available for rent for private events like birthdays, baby showers and more.

A general admission ticket will get you into the special exhibits gallery and the permanent exhibit. The special exhibits gallery has a changing theme, the theme is currently decor throughout the ages. Take a step back in time and walk in the shoes of someone living in the 1900s. Witness the art of interior decorating through the years and how people found their inspiration from old housekeeper manuals and newspaper articles to modern-day Pinterest. Begin with a set up of the typical 1850s Settlers’ home, and advance through an 1890s Parlor, a 1930s living room, a 1960s living room, all the way to a modern day home. 

The permanent exhibit, as you might have guessed, remains the same, but you’ll likely learn something new each time you visit. This exhibit begins with the geological history of the Driftless and how it got its name. Then it takes you through Mount Horeb’s story in the Driftless, starting with the Native American history and influence and ending with modern tourism. As you walk through the extensive exhibit, full of donated artifacts, you’ll learn about European settlement in the Mount Horeb area, the start of communities, life during the war, small-town politics, the rise of entertainment in sports and music, the introduction of small town general stores, the rise of tourism, up to modern day movements. They left no stone unturned in the history walk through the Driftless Historium. You can even enjoy interactive activities, like trying out your own message with the telegraph, viewing 3D tours of historical buildings (coming back soon), and trivia.

If you’ve explored all this and you’re still hungry for more, schedule a behind the scenes tour where a volunteer will take you through the research section and storage room. The research section is free to the public to come and conduct their own investigations into historical artifacts such as yearbooks, tax rolls, maps, newspapers, photographs and other artifacts dating as far back as the 1840s. The storage room doesn’t sound like much, but the room houses all the donated artifacts that are used in the special exhibits gallery when they aren’t out on display. 

 

 

Brix Cider:

After a long morning of history, it’s time to kick back and relax with a refreshing glass of cider at Brix Cider. Here in Wisconsin, we tend to rave about breweries and wineries, but the often forgotten hero is the cidery. Brix Cider opened in January 2019 and has been a strong supporter of local farmers ever since. This true farm to table establishment sources over 50 percent of their ingredients from local farms, so you can be sure you’re getting the freshest ingredients. All the apples are harvested from local orchards in Wisconsin and sometimes the owners of Brix even hand pick the apples themselves. All the products and ingredients used in their sandwiches are locally sourced, even the bread flour is from local wheat fields and made at two local bakeries.
 
 
Apart from being sustainably-sourced and supporting local farmers, the ciders are phenomenal. If you’ve never been a fan of ciders, I assure you Brix will change your mind. They have such a unique array of flavors that there’s something for everyone. A Wisconsin classic, their old fashioned cider is aged in old Wollersheim barrels. Their black currant has a unique tart taste that isn’t overwhelming but satisfies your need for something a little off the beaten path.
 
Speaking of path, Brix is conveniently located just off the Military Ridge State Trail bike path, a perfect stop for your summer bike ride. In the warm months, they have live music and open mic nights in a large yard space along the path. But outdoor seating shouldn’t limited to only part of the year, so they have heated campers and domes for outdoor seating during the winter months. Likewise, Brix Cider is a great location to visit year-round with fun events, great food and even better ciders.
 
 
Skal Public House:
 
Enjoy a walk down the Trollway and stop in for dinner at Skal Public House located right off Main Street. This pub is a modern take on the traditional Norske style beer hall, so grab your favorite craft beer and take a seat. During the warmer months, you can enjoy outdoor seating while you sip on your beer, cocktail or wine. If the weather isn’t quite right, take in the atmosphere of this traditional beer hall and snap a photo in front of the Skal wall for your Instagram.
 
 
Once you’ve picked your seat, pick up a menu and order your favorite Wisconsin classics like cheese curds and a burger or mix it up with pretzel bites and a lefse wrap. My personal favorite appetizer was the parmesan zucchini slices; they were baked with a light crumb coating and served with a garlic aioli. Highly recommend, and make sure to set the ailoi aside for your fries later on. This was the perfect lead up to the main event.
 
 
They have everything from burgers to sandwiches, wraps and salads, but don’t forget to take a peek at the specials menu if you visit on a Friday or Saturday! Check out the Friday’s fish fry options or Saturday’s Smoked Garlic Butter Pork Chop entree. If you’re looking for a dense piece of meat that’s tender enough to cut with a butter knife, this is the meal for you. Paired with mac and cheese and sweet potatoes fries, this meal hits every one of your cravings. The BBQ Brisket Sandwich also deserves a shoutout, and you can count me in for the next Friday fish fry!
 

Sunniva Inn:

If you’re fortunate enough to have more than one day in Mount Horeb, consider staying at Sunniva Inn for a more immersive experience. The inn is located a block away from downtown where all the restaurants and shops are, making it the perfect place to stay if you enjoy walking around and window shopping. It is also close to a variety of trails and activities, great for the outdoor adventurer.
 
The house is Victorian, built in 1903 then restored and repurposed into an inn in 2019. The Sunniva Inn Bed and Breakfast features four bedrooms and large shared spaces like a sitting room, multiple decks, a backyard, a library space and a dining room with complimentary tea and coffee.
 
 
Each room has its own unique theme, so there is something for everyone. The Garden Room is located on the main floor and features a floral theme. The Martin Room is at the top of the stairs and named after the original owners of the house. The Gables Suite is larger than some people’s apartments and features high ceilings with decorative wooden beams, a extra pull-out couch, multiple sitting areas, a spa-style bathroom and its own coffee station. The Stewart Lake Suite is perfect for a couple traveling with kids because it features a sliding door to separate the sleeping spaces and a spacious bathroom.
All rooms have high speed internet making it a great place to stay for the traveling business person to get away from hotel life and enjoy a homey stay. On the flip side, if you’re traveling for leisure or a special occasion, you can request a rose be placed in your room from the local flower shop, Olson’s — a great touch for an anniversary.
 
 
And you don’t have to worry about breakfast each morning because owners Rob and Jill have you covered. Each morning, Rob and Jill make breakfast for the guests and everyone enjoys the meal together in the dining room. Overall, Sunniva Inn has everything you need and more to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Mount Horeb.
 
So where’s your first stop going to be? Keep your eyes peeled as you drive down the Trollway and I’m sure something will catch your eye. Pull over, get out and explore all Mount Horeb has to offer!
 
 
By Kylie Compe | Photos: Kylie Compe