Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in East Troy, WI

  • Published 2022/09/01

The village of East Troy in Wisconsin’s Walworth County is rich in heritage and culture, dating from the 1800s.

Its extensive railroad museum offers visitors a fun-filled trip through scenic landscapes.

Before becoming a village, East Troy was once part of the old town of Troy.

In 1843, a legislature divided the old town of Troy, paving the way for the establishment of East Troy.

Today, East Troy is a vibrant community known for its historical attractions and a range of recreational activities.

Visiting this place lets you explore a wide array of parks, historical sites, and local breweries.

Check out the best things to do in East Troy, Wisconsin, and nearby areas for a quick tour!

Experience World Class Concerts at Alpine Valley Music Theatre

A performer at Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Daniel DeSlover / Shutterstock.com

Alpine Valley Music Theatre is one of the nation’s biggest open-air concert venues.

Rolling Stone included the theater in its list of the “Best Amphitheaters in the United States.”

You can find this massive venue along Co Rd. D in East Troy.

It sits in the vast green fields of East Troy, where some of the best musical concerts happen throughout the year.

Over 37,000 people can watch a show here comfortably, through its open-air lawns.

Music show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Daniel DeSlover / Shutterstock.com

At the same time, it has a 7,500-seater pavilion.

Constructed in 1977, the venue features an iconic wooden roof.

It was once the biggest amphitheater in the country before California built the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in 1993.

Despite losing its title, Alpine Valley Music Theater remains one of Walworth County’s most popular attractions.

Guitar player at Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Daniel DeSlover / Shutterstock.com

Take the Plunge with Skydive Milwaukee/Sky Knights SPC

Take a look at East Troy from a different perspective through skydiving with the Skydive Milwaukee / Sky Knights SPC.

This well-known skydiving group offers a tandem-skydiving experience along Co Highway L in East Troy.

Since 1963, this company has taught students about skydiving and offered skydiving experiences.

Besides tandem skydiving, you can also experience the more hardcore accelerated freefall.

This team employs seasoned skydivers who will take you above the clouds for a one-of-a-kind experience.

While plunging thousands of feet from the sky, you’ll see the beauty of Walworth County below.

If you have the courage to experience skydiving, check out Skydiving Milwaukee/Sky Knights SPC.

Get Spooked at Walk of Terror

Walk of Terror is a famous horror house at Graydon Avenue in East Troy.

It offers you a hair-raising experience with fascinating scares that aren’t just horrifying and highly entertaining.

Likewise, it features mazes and rooms, with scary surprises along the way.

With all that in mind, this attraction is hard to miss when visiting East Troy.

You’ll come across all sorts of ghouls, ghosts, and monsters along the way while trying to escape the winding mazes and rooms.

Check out the Walk of Terror if you’re a horror house fan.

Join your loved ones or travel buddies for an unforgettable experience.

Enjoy a Relaxing Fishing Session at Mill Pond Park

Visit Mill Pond Park for a laidback fishing experience either by yourself or with your fellow anglers.

This 29-acre lake, along Co. Highway G, teems with bluegill and hundreds of turtles.

It’s an excellent place to relax, cast your line and wait for the fish to bite.

At the same time, you can bring your family for a picnic while observing the turtles in their natural habitat.

Besides fishing, stretch your legs for a worthwhile hike along its trail that circles the lake at Mill Pond Park.

Chug a Mug of Honey Mead at the Hive Taproom

The Hive Taproom creates top-notch mead made from locally-sourced honey.

You can visit this taproom along County Road ES in East Troy.

Enjoy conventional craft beers and gluten-free beverages to kombuchas and honey meads.

The owners use hops, honey, and various locally-sourced produce to manufacture their beverages at its brewery.

At the same time, it hosts various live musical performances and lifestyle events for its patrons.

Don’t forget to add the Hive Taproom in your itinerary and reward yourself with a mug of mead.

Train with Champions at the Sorensen Equestrian Park LLC

Sorensen Equestrian Park LLC is a renowned equestrian training center along St. Peters Road.

This place has trained national and international-caliber equestrians, an ideal place to learn proper horseback riding.

If you want to learn how to ride a horse properly and safely, check out this equestrian park.

Its equestrian lessons include boarding, clinics, training, and horse purchase assistance.

In addition, the owners also host equestrian shows and dressage championships.

What are dressage championships?

These are technical competitions where the equestrian directs the horse to perform various maneuvers.

Overall, visiting the Sorensen Equestrian Park gives you a worthwhile experience.

Hop on a Vintage Trolley at East Troy Railroad Museum

Signage of East Troy Railroad Museum

Samuel G Harris / Shutterstock.com

Explore Wisconsin’s beautiful countryside on a historic electric trolley at the East Troy Railroad Museum.

You can find this museum along Church Street.

It mainly offers a fascinating 14-mile train excursion through various locations in Walworth County.

It provides a round-trip ride in one of its restored electric trolleys.

Otherwise, ride one of its interurban cars with various activities on board.

While riding, you can join dinner train rides, Sunday brunch rides, and other exciting events aboard.

Besides its famous train rides, you can also check out vintage trolleys and trains displayed at this museum.

You can also join educational tours to explore the fascinating history of East Troy’s railroad industry.

Complete your visit to the East Troy Railroad Museum by checking out its gift shop and scoring some unique souvenirs.

Try the Award-Winning LD’s BBQ

LD’s BBQ is a popular barbeque restaurant in a gas station along Main Street.

The restaurant’s slow-cooked smoked briskets, ribs, pulled pork, and chicken barbeque have received local and national recognitions.

For instance, LD’s BBQ received the “No. 1 Restaurant in East Troy” honors in 2020.

In addition, it has gained five-star ratings from its previous diners on various review sites.

That said, this barbeque joint will have something delicious waiting for you.

Likewise, this joint boasts a slow-cooked smoked barbecue using oak, lending smoky and juicy meat flavors to the meat.

This award-winning barbeque joint is an excellent choice for dinner with the family.

Sip Beer at the Historic East Troy Brewery

East Troy Brewery along Main Street boasts not just good-quality craft beer but also a fascinating place of history.

This local brewery creates freshly-brewed craft beer and handcrafted food.

Historically, the brewery’s taproom was once a former bank constructed in 1892.

After remodeling and expansions, the bank became a unique brewery with a mini-museum featuring the building’s history.

Besides its good craft beer, delicious food, and historical background, the East Troy Brewery is an ideal place to unwind.

You’ll also enjoy its regular live music sessions or enjoy the outdoors while sipping beer on its patio.

Pet the Cute Animals at Green Meadows Petting Farm

Green Meadows Petting Farm is a family-owned attraction that has operated since 1964.

You can visit this petting farm along High Drive Street.

Visiting this fantastic outdoor spot lets you meet animals like tortoises, ponies, goats, and other farm animals.

Enjoy fun petting and feeding sessions with these mild-mannered animals.

Also, the Green Meadows Petting Farm offers many exciting outdoor activities.

Go on hayrides, enter a corn maze, and try pumpkin picking.

You can also let your kids ride the ponies.

Otherwise, bring home a kitten through its pet adoption program.

Make a Splash at Booth Lake Memorial Park

Booth Lake Memorial Park encompasses a 118-acre lake, mainly famous for outdoor swimming, boating, and fishing destination.

Historically, the town of Troy and the village of East Troy co-own this lakeside memorial park.

It serves as a memorial park to honor the soldiers who fought during the First World War.

Today, many locals and visitors flock to this place’s public beach to cool down and swim during summer.

In addition, many anglers try their luck to catch some panfish, largemouth bass, musky, northern pike, and walleye.

The Booth Lake Memorial Park is an ideal outdoor destination that offers excellent water-related activities.

Other Things to Do Nearby

There are various outdoor attractions outside East Troy, such as a skiing resort, vast lakes, and natural areas.

Here are some of the recommended attractions near East Troy.

Enjoy the Annual Walworth County Fair

Daytime view of the Walworth County Fair

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Annual Walworth County Fair has occurred in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, for over a century.

This county fair is one of Wisconsin’s longest-running and most extensive county fairs, a special event to witness.

This annual county fair happens in Elkhorn, about 12 minutes from East Troy.

Wacky worm ride at Walworth County Fair

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The venue of this fair encompasses 99 acres called the ‘Walworth County Fairgrounds.’

The fair highlights the county’s rich agricultural heritage and industry.

Thousands of people converge at this fair and display their best agricultural products.

At the same time, it has exciting activities such as festivals, horse shows, camping, and markets.

Rides at Walworth County Fair

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Like most county fairs, check out the various exhibits, watch shows, and play sideshow games.

Then, enjoy delectable food and drinks during the festivities.

Bring the family to the Walworth County fair!

Concession stands at Walworth County Fair

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ski the Slopes at Alpine Valley Resort

Alpine Valley Resort is situated in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, about an eight-minute drive south of East Troy.

This ski and mountain resort sits atop the Kettle Moraine Area.

It features over 90 acres of skiable landscape, with a 388-feet vertical drop.

In addition, it’s also one of Southeastern Wisconsin’s biggest ski resorts.

Regarding lodging, it has over 120 rooms at the ski hill’s base with indoor and outdoor hot tubs and a pool.

This resort isn’t just a popular ski resort.

The Alpine Valley Resort features a 27-hole golf course, mountain bike trails, and other outdoor activities.

Wander the Pickerel Lake Fen State Natural Area

Drive about 3.1 miles west of East Troy to reach the Pickerel Lake Fen State Natural Area.

This diverse natural area is home to vibrant local flora and fauna from a prehistoric glacial ridge.

Its entire landscape highlights lush shrub areas, wetlands, and a lake home to a diverse species of rare plants.

If you want to explore nature not far off East Troy, hike the unspoiled terrain of the Pickerel Lake Fen State Natural Area.

While hiking, try to spot various rare plants and even local wildlife, particularly birds.

Step Back in Time at the Geneva Lake Museum

Drive about 20 minutes from East Troy to reach the Geneva Lake Museum in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

This museum features a street depicting Lake Geneva’s 1800s brick-paved roads and buildings.

This museum opened in 1983, constructed along 818 Geneva Street.

During the 1990s, the city relocated the museum to a former power plant, offering a more spacious location.

Today, it remains a fascinating place to revisit history, especially along “Main Street.”

This section in the museum features Geneva Lake’s late 19th and early 20th-century lifestyle.

While exploring, you’ll come across historic buildings, stores, schools, vehicles, furniture, machines, tools, clothing, and photos.

These artifacts depict how locals lived their daily lives back in the day, making this museum a special place to visit.

Spend the day at the Geneva Lake Museum!

Final Thoughts

East Troy might be small, but it offers many attractions not many people know about.

You can find its rich history anywhere, from shops, breweries, museums, and parks in this tiny village near Milwaukee.

Plan your trip today and discover the best things to do in East Troy, Wisconsin!

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