The History
Jessie Thorp with her young niece Everil Kinsey
The Thorp House Inn and its cottages are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 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, Christine and Sverre Falck-Pedersen purchased the Thorp House. After extensive restoration, they opened its doors to visitors once again, this time as a "bed and breakfast" inn. As a tribute to the Thorp women, the guest rooms bear their names.
Inspiration For The New York Times Bestseller, Bittersweet
About the book...
"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...
It's been 20 years since Bittersweet was published and not a week goes by without at least one call from a devoted fan. People often ask how we came to know LaVyrle Spencer and what prompted her to write a book about a bed-and-breakfast innkeeper in Fish Creek.
La Vryle 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 our doors - and it was at breakfast the following morning that LaVyrle happened to mentioned she was an author. To my astonishment, almost everyone at the table knew of her or had read her books. After a lovely visit that seemed all too short, the Spencer’s left me with promises to return – and armloads of books!
LaVryle Spencer & Chris Falck-Pedersen, Innkeeper
Sometime before the 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. The short version is: Bittersweet was published, became a bestseller and has been printed in 17 languages; I have a couple of copies in Norwegian. I would love to take credit for helping LaVyrle write the book, but as it turned out, she managed to do it on her own, without my assistance. However, I did enjoy being the first to read it – in manuscript form - in a box – on sheets of printer paper. 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.
My husband, Sverre, and I have remained close friends with Dan and LaVyrle for the past 22 years. What fun it has been to share the details of building their 3-story Victorian home, the excitement of LaVyrle's first New York Times "bestseller" (destined to be just one of 12), movie contracts, grandbabies, birthday parties, snorkeling in Maui and so much more. Everyone asks: "What's she like?" If she describes a room, you're in it...a recipe, you taste it. She is a talented musician and has a beautiful singing voice. She rises at dawn, has a wicked sense of humor and eats more sugar than anyone I've ever known. She adores her husband - doesn't particularly love dogs though. She's unbelievably organized, loves flower gardening, Maui, movies, theatre, mashed potatoes, shoes, art, sculpture...and karaoke. We still get together at least once a year – at their house or ours – usually when LaVyrle comes to Door County for a "girlfriend-get-together". I'm looking forward to, and resting up for, her next visit.
Christine Falck-Pedersen
For additional biographical and literary information on LaVyrle Spencer, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVyrle_Spencer
"Because of its physical integrity, early construction date and historic presence, The Thorp House remains the most outstanding representation of private home adaptation to the development of tourism in Fish Creek today."
The United States Department of Interior National Park Service
Thorp House Inn was the inspiration for LaVyrle Spencer's New York Times best-selling novel, Bittersweet
The following entry from our guest-book is dated October of 2002.
"Seventeen years ago I came to Thorp House for the first time. It has become ingrained in my writing, my friendships and my life."
LaVyrle Spencer
A Movable Feast - Fish Creek's Historic Inns Annual Progressive Dinners
A movable feast is the best way to describe a gourmet dinner that begins at one of Fish Creek's three historic inns, continues on to a second for the main course, then finishes at the third for dessert.
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The Historic Thorp House Inn and Cottages 4135 Bluff Lane P.O. Box 490 Fish Creek, WI 54212 Phone: 920-868-2444
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