Welcome to Dalsoren House!
Located in Wisconsin's Driftless Area on 240 acres of conserved prairie and woodlands, Dalsoren House offers a tranquility you will not find anywhere else. As a guest of Dalsoren House, you will be able to explore and enjoy restored grassland prairies, oak savannas, a pine relic, and a Class I-II DNR Trout Stream (Gordon Creek)- all without leaving the property! You can observe a wide variety of native species including red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, badgers, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, rusty patched bumble bees, hill thistles, compass plants, and much, much more. After a day of exploring, you can relax around the firepit (we supply all the split firewood you need!) to the sounds of the spring peepers while watching a beautiful sunset. Once the sun has set, the rural night sky offers wonderful stargazing opportunities away from city lights.
We have mowed paths around the farm for you to explore nature. We do recommend you bring hiking boots/shoes, rain jackets, hiking pants, insect repellent, and sunscreen so you can enjoy the great outdoors comfortably. Conservation efforts on the farm are ongoing, and we partner with local, state, and federal organizations to carefully plan efforts from prescribed burns to native plantings. Let us know if you have any questions about the conservation work being done.
Dalsoren House was built in 1975 by Mary and Steve Thompson when they returned to the family farm to take over the dairy operations from Steve's parents. Mary and Steve used the barn as inspiration for the design of Dalsoren. They harvested the lumber from the farm, employed all local contractors, and did a lot of the work themselves. They incorporated a variety of unique features - such as stained glass - to create a truly one-of-a-kind home for their family. In 2020, the Thompsons did a complete restoration of Dalsoren House - again, using timber sustainably harvested from the farm and employing local contractors. The restoration was carefully planned to keep the original character of the house. The Thompson family (including a very friendly Labrador named Ole) still lives on the property today in the family farmhouse (built in 1901).
As of 2021, Dalsoren House has a new kitchen, bathroom, roof, windows, and sidings, as well as new furnishings and appliances. Dalsoren House can sleep 4-6 people comfortably. There are two bedrooms (1 queen bed and 2 twin beds) as well as 2 twin roll-away beds.
- Heating and Air Conditioning: The house has central heating for cool days in the early spring and fall. For those warmer summer days, each bedroom has an air conditioning unit. There are powerful ceiling fans throughout the house as well.
- Accessibility: There is a poured cement sidewalk to the house. There are three steps up to the front porch - the porch has railings. The ground floor has a bathroom with an accessible shower, rollaway twin beds, living room, and kitchen. Please contact us for more information.
- We are aways happy to welcome pets of any kind (cats, dogs, etc.) to Dalsoren (limit of 2)!
- WI DNR Fishing Licenses are required to fish in Gordon Creek. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/outreach/FishingLicenses
- Hunting, target shooting, and ATVs (and similar motor vehicles) are not permitted. Please contact us with questions.
The Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin has a great deal to offer visitors. Spring Green, New Glarus, Mineral Point and Mount Horeb are all an easy drive from Dalsoren House. These small towns have outdoor theaters, museums, festivals, state parks, cycling, shopping, wineries, breweries, and restaurants for you to enjoy.
We hope you come visit us and enjoy the tranquility of Dalsoren House and the natural beauty of the farm and the Driftless Area of Wisconsin! Please let us know if you have any questions.
With warm wishes and thanks,
The Thompson Family