Places to Stay : Fish Creek

Thorp House Inn and Cottages
4135 Bluff Lane
Box 490
Fish Creek, WI 54212
920-868-2444

Website: www.thorphouseinn.com

The Thorp House, built around the turn-of-the century in the early 1900’s and on the National Register of Historic Places, is a magnificent example of Victorian warmth, charm and style! The innkeepers and owners, Christine & Sverre Falck-Pedersen, have done a superb job running the inn for the last 18+years.

We recently revisited the inn, met with Christine and took another tour. The inn is more magnificent as ever (and so are the scones)!

When you walk in, you know you are going to like it, as you enter the sitting room, small and cozy, with fireplace, comfortable period pieces and wall décor. Off to the right is a small library, with two period loveseats, and a whole wall of books – select one and have a seat and relax with a cup of tea! One shelf is loaded with the romance novels of LaVyrle Spencer, a very popular author, who is a personal friend of Christine, and who stays at the inn each year! In fact, Thorp House inspired her best selling novel, "Bittersweet!"

The kitchen on the first floor looks like a snapshot from a magazine – it is so beautiful, you want to sit down at the long wooden table and have one of Christine’s famous cinnamon and raison, heart-shaped scones! The half-a-dozen that we ate lived up to their reputation – they were scrumptious! Be sure to try them when you stay at Thorp House!

Five guest rooms grace the main house, and each are named after one of the original occupants of the house, from the Maria Room, warmly decorated in creams and aquamarine colors, to Everil, done in the neo-classical style, the rooms are meticulously appointed and show the talent and flair Christine and Sverre have for maintaining an authentic, 100+ year old, home. Some of the rooms even have original photos of some of thee inns original dwellers! Some very nice touches like this bring alive the history of the home! The Everil Room is the largest, and has a double whirlpool, private balcony, and gas fireplace – the stuff honeymoons are made of!

The treatment is exquisite, with period wallpapers, antiques and furnishings, and, aside from electric lights, you would swear it was still the turn of the century! In addition to the 6 rooms in the main house, there are

• 6 two bedroom cottages, fully equipped-most having wood burning fireplaces. We toured a couple of the cottages, and they were very pleasant
• 3 two bedroom apartments in the Beach House, fully equipped. This is more modern lodging, which we did not tour.
• Ivy Cottage - in a very private wooded location, a couple of doors down from the inn has three bedrooms (2 queens and two twins), 2 baths, wood burning fireplace and more!

Rates:
Ranges: depending on the accommodation, and season; you should always check with the innkeeper for current rates and availability.

• Main House: Rooms from: $75 - $195 a night
• Cottages: from $85 - $155 a night; weekly rates available
• Beach House: from $95 - $185 a night; weekly rates available
• Ivy Cottage $125 - $195 a night; weekly rates available

Restrictions:
Adults only in the main house. Kids in the cottages only.
No pets
(Non stated, we assume no smoking)
Breakfast in the Main House only

Amenities:
-Home baked breakfast served in "turn-of-the-century" kitchen and front library. Christine’s own recipe for English Scones are a house specialty, as we know first hand!
-Each of the 5 rooms, painstakingly researched and exquisitely decorated in authentic antiques and true-to-period wall covering, lighting and European lace.
-Front and upstairs library/sitting rooms authentically appointed.

Meals:
Breakfast included in price (Main House only)

Summary!
The Thorp House Inn was both a surprise and a delight – a surprise because you have to try to find the place, on a small back street in Fish Creek; a delight in everything we saw! Our tour was utterly captivating from start to finish. Each room was infused with individual personality by the owners’, Christine and Sverre Falck-Pederson, obvious sense of historic elegance, and two of the most pleasant people you will meet. The staff has always been warm and helpful on our several stops here! The Everil Room, the crown of Thorp House, must be experienced to be appreciated, as must the overall feel of Thorp House and what must be their unforgettable breakfasts in the kitchen—a room that inexorably drew us back to a time we have only read about – maybe in her friend’s book! It exuded warmth, and style.

The Thorp House is a must for all romantics, whether you admit it or not. We highly recommend it!

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