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Thorp House Inn & Cottages
4135 Bluff Lane, P.O. Box 490
Fish Creek, WI, 54212, USA
(920) 868-2444

Thorp House History

Thorp House Inn, 1905

Historic Fish Creek, WI Lodging

The Thorp House Inn and its cottages are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and offers visitors a historic Fish Creek, WI lodging option. In 1902, Freeman Thorp, nephew of Asa Thorp, founder of Fish Creek, began the building of the house. Tragedy struck on October 3, 1903, when the steamship Erie L. Hackley capsized in a sudden squall, claiming the life of Freeman and 10 others.

Fate necessitated that the widowed Jessie Thorp begin renting rooms to tourists. Later named Cedar Ridge, Breezy Hill, and The Heritage, the Thorp home continued to accommodate guests well into the 1960′s.

In 1986, after extensive restoration, its doors opened to visitors once again, this time as a Door County bed and breakfast. As a tribute to the Thorp women, the guest rooms bear their names.

Inspiration For The New York Times Bestseller, Bittersweet

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"In Bittersweet, LaVyrle Spencer spins a spellbinding tale of true love and postponed romance between two spirited individuals, played out against the breathtaking landscape of Door County. Brimming with emotion, superb storytelling, the richly drawn characters, and spirited passion that make all her books irresistible and exquisitely satisfying. Bittersweet is another masterful novel in the heartwarming Spencer tradition."

Putnam Publishing

About the author...

People often ask what prompted LaVryle Spencer to write a book about an innkeeper at a bed and breakfast in Door County.

LaVryle Spencer first stayed at the Thorp House Inn during its opening week in July of 1986. She and her husband Dan were the third couple to walk through the door. It was at breakfast the following morning that LaVyrle happened to mention she was an author. Almost everyone at the table knew of her or had read her books. After their visit, the Spencers left with promises to return and armloads of books!  Sometime before her next visit, LaVyrle hatched the idea for "the" book. She arrived with spiral notebook in hand and a plot already forming. She sketched the entire village on a long roll of white paper that would be taped to the walls of her circular "turret" office.

Bittersweet was published and became a bestseller, printed in 17 languages. Many of our guests say it's their favorite of all LaVyrle's books, and it continues to be a best seller in Door County.

For additional biographical and literary information on LaVyrle Spencer, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVyrle_Spencer