Pennsylvania’s Charming Cheese Farm That Feels Like A Foodie Dream
Some places make you feel like you just stepped into a postcard, and then they hand you cheese.
Calkins Creamery at Highland Farm in Pennsylvania is that kind of foodie dream in Honesdale, where the countryside vibe is peaceful and the payoff is delicious.
Fresh air, open space, and that cozy farm feel set the scene, but the real magic is knowing the good stuff is made right there.
It is the kind of stop that makes you slow down, look around, and appreciate how satisfying simple can be. A charming cheese farm hits all the right notes.
It feels wholesome without trying too hard, and it turns a casual visit into a little experience you want to savor.
Great cheese has personality, creamy, tangy, sharp, rich, and once you start tasting, it is hard to stop imagining all the ways you want to eat it later.
Honesdale adds to the charm too, giving the whole trip that easy, small-town energy that makes the drive feel worthwhile.
I always tell myself I will buy just one wedge, and then I catch myself doing mental math about how many crackers I need to support my new cheese collection.
Family Legacy Runs Deep Here
The Bryant family didn’t just wake up one day and decide to make cheese. They’ve been dairy farming on this land for several generations, with roots dug deep into Wayne County soil.
When you visit, you might meet Emily Montgomery or her dad, Bill Bryant, and they’ll gladly share stories about how the farm evolved from traditional dairy to artisan cheesemaking.
This isn’t some corporate operation trying to look rustic. The family actually lives here, works here, and pours their heritage into every wheel of cheese they produce.
You can feel that history the moment you step onto the property. Visitors often mention how refreshing it is to talk with the actual farmers.
No middlemen, no marketing speak, just real people who know their cows by personality and can tell you exactly how their cheese gets made.
That personal connection makes every purchase feel meaningful rather than transactional.
Holstein Cows Are The Real Stars
Walk past the little retail shop and you’ll find the real celebrities of Calkins Creamery. The Holstein cows here aren’t just milk machines; they’re treated like the valued partners they are.
These black and white beauties graze on rolling hillside pastures, living what honestly looks like a pretty sweet bovine life.
What makes these cows special isn’t just their breed. It’s how they’re cared for and the quality of milk they produce.
Every drop of milk used in Calkins cheeses comes exclusively from this herd, which means total control over quality from grass to final product.
Several reviews mention getting to pet mama cows and meet new calves during visits. That kind of access is rare these days, and it shows how confident the family feels about their operation.
Happy cows really do make better cheese, and one look at these ladies proves the point beautifully.
Over Twenty Cheese Varieties Await
The selection at Calkins Creamery isn’t some basic cheddar and Swiss situation. They craft an award-winning lineup of distinct cheeses, ranging from soft-ripened beauties to aged hard cheeses that pack serious flavor.
Each style represents different techniques, aging periods, and flavor profiles that keep cheese enthusiasts coming back for more.
Their Noble Road soft-ripened cheese has earned serious love among fans.
Customers describe it as incredibly creamy with perfect balance, often calling it one of the best soft-ripened cheeses they’ve encountered.
The Noblette has earned major recognition, which speaks volumes about quality.
Then there’s the playfully named Curdz, which plenty of visitors call a fast favorite. Cheese curds get lots of love too, along with spreads in various flavors.
With this much variety, even picky eaters find something that makes their taste buds celebrate. The selection ensures nobody leaves empty-handed or disappointed.
Georgic Quark Is A Hidden Gem
Most Americans have never heard of quark, let alone tasted good quark. This European-style fresh cheese sits somewhere between cream cheese and yogurt, with a tangy richness that’s hard to describe until you try it.
Calkins Creamery calls their version Georgic, and it has devoted fans who order it in bulk.
One customer has been buying five-pound containers for five years, shipping it with cold packing and expedited options, then freezing portions for later use.
They’ve tried quark from Russian food stores and various other sources but insist nothing compares to what Calkins produces.
The creamery has earned awards for this particular cheese.
Finding quark in the United States is genuinely difficult, which makes Calkins’ version even more special.
It’s versatile enough for sweet or savory applications, healthier than cream cheese, and packed with protein.
For anyone with Eastern European roots or adventurous taste buds, this cheese alone justifies the trip to Honesdale.
Sampling Is Practically Mandatory
The staff at Calkins Creamery doesn’t just tolerate sampling; they actively encourage it. Walk into their small retail space and you’ll likely be greeted by someone eager to let you taste whatever catches your eye.
Emily, who often works the shop, has been praised repeatedly for creating beautiful cheese spreads that let visitors explore different varieties.
This generous sampling policy isn’t just good customer service. It’s smart business because once you taste these cheeses, you’re probably buying some.
The staff knows their products inside and out, answering questions about aging processes, flavor notes, and best uses for each variety.
I watched a family spend nearly thirty minutes tasting and chatting, and nobody rushed them or made them feel pressured. That relaxed, educational approach transforms shopping into an experience.
You leave not just with cheese but with knowledge about what you’re eating and appreciation for the craft behind it. That’s worth more than any flashy marketing campaign.
Location Offers Scenic Beauty
Getting to Calkins Creamery means driving through some of the prettiest countryside northeastern Pennsylvania has to offer.
Wayne County is all rolling hills, active farmland, and that peaceful rural vibe that makes you want to slow down and breathe deeper.
The creamery sits right in the heart of this pastoral landscape.
Yes, it’s a bit out of town, and one confused reviewer complained about finding the actual store on the property. But most visitors consider the location part of the charm rather than an inconvenience.
The drive itself becomes part of the experience, especially during fall when the hills explode with color.
At 288 Calkins Rd in Honesdale, the creamery occupies working farmland where you can see the barns, pastures, and daily operations.
It’s not some sanitized tourist attraction; it’s a real farm that happens to welcome visitors.
That authenticity, combined with the beautiful setting, makes the trip feel like a genuine escape from everyday life.
Operating Hours Require Planning
Spontaneity doesn’t work well with Calkins Creamery unless you’re visiting Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Saturdays offer a shorter window from 11 AM to 3 PM, and Sundays they’re closed entirely.
These limited hours reflect the reality of running a working farm where cheesemaking and animal care don’t stop just because the retail shop closes.
Some people drive two hours specifically to visit, so checking hours before making the trek is absolutely essential.
Missing them by thirty minutes after a long drive would be genuinely heartbreaking, especially with all that cheese waiting inside.
The upside of these constrained hours is that when they’re open, someone knowledgeable is usually available to help. You’re not getting minimum-wage workers who know nothing about the products.
You’re getting family members or trained staff who live and breathe this operation. That expertise makes the visit infinitely more valuable than extended hours with disengaged employees ever could.
Shipping Brings Cheese To You
Can’t make it to Honesdale? Calkins Creamery ships their products, carefully packed with cold packing and expedited options.
Customers rave about how well their orders arrive, with cheese reaching doorsteps in great condition despite traveling hundreds of miles.
One dedicated quark fan orders five-pound containers regularly, receiving them quickly without any quality issues.
The packaging is described as impeccable, which matters tremendously when shipping perishable dairy products.
Nobody wants to open a box of expensive artisan cheese only to find it’s turned into expensive artisan soup.
This shipping option extends the creamery’s reach far beyond northeastern Pennsylvania. Cheese lovers across the region can enjoy Noble Road, Georgic, and other varieties without the drive.
While visiting the farm offers irreplaceable experiences, knowing you can reorder your favorites from home makes that initial trip even more worthwhile.
The creamery has clearly figured out how to maintain quality whether customers shop in person or online.
Tours Reveal The Cheesemaking Process
Several lucky visitors mention getting tours of the actual cheesemaking operation, which isn’t something you can count on but happens often enough to be worth asking about.
These informal tours let you see where the magic happens, from milk receiving to aging rooms where cheeses develop their complex flavors.
Emily’s dad, who runs the farm operations, has given impromptu barn tours where he explains the cows, the farm’s history, and how everything connects.
These aren’t scripted presentations; they’re genuine conversations with someone who knows every detail of the operation.
You might get to meet newborn calves or watch milking happen in real time.
The building primarily serves as a manufacturing facility, which explains why the retail space is relatively small. But that focus on production over retail polish is actually refreshing.
You’re visiting a working creamery, not a theme park version of one. The tours, when available, offer fascinating glimpses into artisan food production that most people never experience.
Customer Service Exceeds Expectations
Outstanding customer service isn’t just a nice bonus at Calkins Creamery; it’s woven into how they operate. Responses show up often online, and the tone tends to be warm and personal.
That level of engagement signals how much they value every person who walks through their door or orders online.
Staff members are consistently described as friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do.
They know their curds from their whey, as one clever reviewer put it, and they’re eager to share that expertise.
Whether you’re a cheese novice or a seasoned turophile, they meet you at your level without condescension or impatience.
Even the occasional complaint tends to get a thoughtful reply that acknowledges the realities of a small farm store and working creamery. That kind of accountability is rare and admirable.
When a business treats customers like valued guests rather than transactions, people notice and return. The loyalty Calkins Creamery has built stems directly from this exceptional service approach.