Seven Acre Dairy Company Celebrates Wisconsin History
07/17/2023
By Sue Sveum | © Seven Acre Dairy Company
Picture this: a historic dairy factory building sitting on 7 acres of land along the banks of the scenic Sugar River in the midst of south central Wisconsin’s rugged driftless area. If it sounds quaint and beautiful, it’s because it is. And it just might be the ideal setting for your next meeting or event because the 21,000-square-foot factory has been restored for that purpose.
Welcome to Seven Acre Dairy Company in Paoli — just 20 minutes south of Madison.
This once-operational dairy (from 1889-1980), now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been completely renovated to include a boutique hotel, an upscale farm-to-table restaurant and a casual Dairy Café — where guests can enjoy breakfast or lunch while watching an on-site micro-dairy at work, churning out sweet cream butter and soft-serve ice cream right before their eyes.
Event and meeting spaces, both indoor and out, can host groups of eight to 200 people. And, especially in Wisconsin’s warmer months, there’s nothing more appealing than a stroll or gathering on the 7 acres of private lawns, gardens and oak trees along the Sugar River.
“My wife and I have always loved Paoli, and we were looking for something different to invest in when we came across this site,” explains owner Nic Mink. “We became inspired by the history of the building and enthusiastic about creating a unique dairy- themed destination complemented by Midwestern hospitality.”
Mink says they learned so many stories about the history of the area, along with the building and its workers while doing their research, that they immediately wanted to create a business that would help share those stories with others. He adds that much of the furniture for the dairy was built by local artisans in keeping with the theme as well.
“The indoor event space can serve up to 100 people within two 50-person rooms,” says Mink. “And because it’s in this historic dairy factory, the space almost has the air of a museum.” This indoor area has become popular for smaller events, such as board meetings, parties and rehearsal dinners.
“The catering is exceptional farmstead food, with locally sourced food and dairy,” continues Mink. “And there’s a full bar, featuring local beers on tap, as well as favorite Wisconsin craft cocktails.” Audiovisual equipment and other amenities are also available.
For larger events, the outdoor area is spectacular. Seven Acre Dairy Company can handle both professional and social events of up to 200, with plenty of space for recreational activities or simply gathering by the outdoor bar and fire pit for a little socializing or an alfresco dinner. A natural amphitheater with space for 150 will be completed in the fall of 2023.
And then there’s the boutique hotel. The inn features eight unique rooms and suites, which can accommodate 32 guests. “We’ve had the inn booked separately or by an entire group, like a wedding party or corporate executive team,” says Mink, “and for larger groups, we have a partnership with a couple of nearby Hyatt hotels.”
Although Seven Acre Dairy Company can handle multiday events, one-day meetings or socials are welcome, too. No meeting at all? No worries. The public is welcome to dine in The Kitchen, the upscale farm-to-table restaurant, or the Dairy Café, where the ice cream is made from Wisconsin milk. And hands-on butter-making opportunities are in the works for future educational or team-building events.
Seven Acre Dairy is in a wonderful rural area, surrounded by nature, but also close in proximity to all that Madison has to offer. “You’ll find an intimate meeting place complete with food, drinks, charm and history — perfect for anyone wanting a true Wisconsin experience,” Mink concludes.
Sue Sveum is a freelance writer based in the Madison area.
