Despite the galactic name, the Mars Cheese Castle is located on planet Earth. In 1947, Mario Ventura—otherwise known as Mars—opened a small gas station which sold some of Wisconsin’s most delicious cheeses. Over the decades, Ventura and family cultivated a cheese business that was so robust, only a giant custom castle on Frontage Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin could accommodate their expansive fromage selection.
Photo by Ben/Flickr
The Mars Cheese Castle is truly a cheese lover’s paradise. Visitors can partake in cheese plates, cheese sandwiches, and Wisconsin‘s legendary fried cheese curds. There is a deli that serves nachos, mac & cheese, and chili with cheese. Needless to say, every menu item features an extra cheese option. For curious visitors who are looking to branch out and munch on something new, the Mars Cheese Castle offers cheese samples galore.
Photo courtesy of Visit Kenosha
For those who delight in pairing cheeses with beer and wine, the Mars Cheese Castle features plenty of libations that will help elevate your cheese consumption to the next level. There are an abundance of knowledgeable staff members on-site who are eager to help you find the ideal wine and cheese or beer and cheese pairing. The Mars Cheese Castle features an impressive selection of some of Wisconsin’s most celebrated beers. There are even frequent in-house workshops which are open to the public for those who want to perfect their cheese pairing skills.
Photo courtesy of Visit Kenosha
In addition to plenty of delectable tastes and enticing smells, the Mars Cheese Castle also features several castle dwellers in period dress for a fully immersive experience, Snacking on Wisconsin cheese curds aside a wizard and a court jester is about as fun and fantastical as it gets. If you would sign a royal decree to make cheese the official food of your kingdom, a visit to the Mars Cheese Castle is an absolute must.