Dorset Valley Trailside Inn

06/01/2026

Please join us on Sunday, June 28!

05/02/2026

🚲 DUST OFF THOSE BIKES—THE TUNNELS ARE OPENING! 🚲

The moment we’ve been waiting for is finally here! Join the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce as we officially kick off the bike riding season with our Opening Tunnel Celebration, Elroy Sparta Trail

Whether you’re a local pro or a casual cruiser, come out and celebrate our beautiful Sparta-Elroy State Bike Trail!

📅 THE DETAILS
WHEN: Saturday, May 2nd

TIME: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

WHERE: The Depot 111 Milwaukee St. Sparta, WI 54656

RIBBON CUTTING: 10:00 AM with Mayor Kevin and the Miss Sparta Organization.

🎉 WHAT’S HAPPENING?
We’ve got a full lineup of community fun for the whole family:

🍔 Chug 'n Good Eats Food Truck

🍦 Ice cream with Fred from Sparta Ice Cream Co.

🎨 Face painting by Tonya from The Edge

🚒 Western Technical College Fire Service Trainings Fire Truck on-site

🛍️ Fun grab bags from the Sparta Free Library

🎶 Live music and great vibes all day!

🏆 BIKE DECORATING CONTEST
Want to win some prizes? Show up with your bike already decked out, OR use the decorations provided by the Chamber to style your ride on the spot! We want to see the most creative bikes in Sparta!

🚲 DON’T STOP THERE!
The fun continues the very next day! Join the Fred Greens Community Bike Ride on Sunday, May 3rd at 10:00 AM. We’ll be meeting at the iconic Ben Bikin statue to keep the momentum going.

Come be a part of the community, enjoy the scenery, and let’s start the season right! We’ll see you at the tunnels! 🌲✨

04/28/2026

🚴‍♂️ GEAR UP, RIDERS! THE TUNNELS ARE OPENING! 🚴‍♀️

The wait is finally over! This weekend marks the official season opening of the legendary Elroy Sparta Trail tunnels. If you call yourself a cyclist, this is the "bucket list" ride you absolutely have to tackle this summer. May 1st 2026~

As America’s very first rails-to-trails project, this 32.5-mile route isn't just a ride—it’s a trip through history. You’ll pedal through stunning wetlands, prairies, and the rugged beauty of Wisconsin’s unglaciated driftless area.

🔦 THE TUNNEL EXPERIENCE
The stars of the show are the three massive rock tunnels, each over 140 years old!

Kendall & Wilton Tunnels: Each a quarter-mile of cool, dark adventure.

The Big One (Norwalk/Sparta): A massive 0.75-mile trek underground!

Pro-Tips for the Tunnels: * Bring a flashlight—it gets pitch black in there!

Walk Your Bike through the tunnels for safety it's wet and rocky.

Pack a light jacket—it stays chilly even on 90° days.

Watch for the "mountain dew"—natural spring water often trickles from the ceiling!

🏰 MAKE SPARTA YOUR HOME BASE
Don’t just ride and drive away! Turn your trip into a summer getaway by staying a few days right here in Sparta. There is so much more to explore:

Downtown Vibes: Shop our local boutiques and grab a delicious bite to eat at our in town local eateries.

Culture & History: Visit our local museums and admire the iconic bridges that make our town so photogenic.

Beyond the Bike: Swap your helmet for a life vest! Grab a kayak or a fishing pole and hit our beautiful local waterways.

Concerts in the Park: If you’re here on a Wednesday (May 20th – August 26th), head over to Evans-Bosshard Park from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm for the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce’s Concerts in the Park! 🎶

On Saturday head to Water St in Downtown Sparta for The Sparta Farmer's Market May 9th-October 10th 8 am-1pm.

Whether you’re a distance pro or a family looking
for a weekend adventure, Sparta is the place to be this summer.😎🎣🔅🍺☀️🚴🚴‍♀️🛶🎶🦋

Explore Monroe County Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park

04/23/2026

04/17/2026

We would like to take this opportunity to update our Dorset Valley Schoolhouse Restaurant Family, Friends and Neighbors on some changes coming our way.

As many of you know Rick has spent the past 7 months recovering from a massive heart attack. During this time he has had to make many changes in his life. One major change involves the restaurant. We as a family have come to the realization that it is time to pass the torch on to the next caretaker of this beautiful historic building.

So at this time Dorset Valley Schoolhouse Restaurant, the Mercantile, Salon and apartment as well as the large shed are going up for sale.

We plan on keeping the Dorset Valley Trailside Inn.

This place has meant so much to us. It’s been an absolute blessing to host the free Veterans Breakfast each month in collaboration with Together with Veterans Sparrow’s Nest—something that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Our Thursday card nights brought people together in the best way, full of laughter, connection, and good old-fashioned fun.

Holding creative classes and special events for the community has brought us so much joy.

To every regular customer, every new face, and every person who walked through our doors—thank you. Your support, kindness, and community spirit have meant more to us than we can ever fully express.

And finally to our dedicated staff, some who have been with us for several years, others since we took on this mission 6 years ago, words can not express our appreciation for all you have done. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you!

It is our hope that someone special will come along to take this beautiful, charming business and continue what’s been built here—keeping it a gathering place for this incredible community.

So as we go through this transition of finding a buyer for the property we will continue to be open and serving you. We will provide the best possible food and service in the most charming atmosphere around.

Thank You!❤️ Rick and Deb

04/08/2026

2026 Fee Schedule

04/04/2026

Remember Dave’s shuttle service.

Bike season is fast approaching, and I will again be offering shuttle service along the Elroy-Sparta State trail with additional services to the 400 State Trail, the La Crosse River State Trail, and the Great River State Trail. Shuttle services are on a first come, first serve basis so don't wait to get your reservations. Call of text me at 608-487-3271.

Sparta Trail Depot
Shuttle

03/22/2026

🌎 Our Power, Our Planet! 🌍

Earth Day Trail Clean Up Day Aprill 22nd 9AM!

It’s time to shake off the winter blues and show some love to the trail we all adore! The Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Wisconsin Friends of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail -WI FESST, and Dorset Valley Schoolhouse Restaurant, invites YOU to our Earth Day Trail Clean-Up!

Spring is officially here, and there’s no better way to enjoy the fresh air than by helping us get the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail ready for a summer full of visitors. Whether you’re a local regular or a weekend warrior, this is our chance to keep our corner of Wisconsin beautiful!

📍 Where to Meet (9:00 AM)
Pick the location most convenient for you! We’ll be stationed at:

The Sparta Depot- 111 Milwaukee St Sparta

Dorset Valley Schoolhouse Restaurant-26147 State HWY 71 Wilton

Outside of Tunnel 2 (East)

Kendall Depot-113 White St, Kendall

Elroy (at the bike trail)-303 Railroad St, Elroy,

🎒 What’s Provided
Don't worry about the gear—we've got you covered! At each location, we will provide:

✅ Trash bags

✅ Gloves

✅ Safety glasses

🧤 What to Bring
A Team: Grab your kids, your friends, your coworkers or go solo! (Teachers/Students: this is a fantastic way to log some volunteer hours! 🎓)

The Right Gear: Dress for the job! We might be climbing through some brush to catch that pesky winter debris, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty.

Let's harness "Our Power" to protect "Our Planet." Let’s make this the best season yet for the trail! 🚲🍃

Call 608 269 4123 & Sign Up Today! *Please Leave a message if we are not in.

01/23/2026

Let your friends and neighbors know.
We are doing it again this Friday January 30! Call ahead for your Friday night delivery.