Villa Louis Carriage Classic

Saturday, September 11, 2010 - Sunday, September 12, 2010   8 am-4 pm (mansion tours 10 am-5 pm)

The brief heyday of the Dousman family's famed trotting horse operation, the Artesian Stock Farm, will be recalled during this elegant event, one of the largest carriage driving competitions in the nation. More than 100 drivers hitch finely trained horses of many breeds to new and restored carriages. Events take place in a fenced arena as well as on the lawns and grounds surrounding the Villa Louis country estate. Visitors may also tour the Dousman family home and enjoy full food and beverages service on the mansion lawn.

Ticket Info:

Adults $9; children (5-17) $4.50; students and senior citizens (65 and over) $7.75; family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $24. A special grounds-only ticket will be available for a discount.

Location Info:

Venue: Villa Louis

The historic Villa Louis mansion is the centerpiece of a grand Victorian estate built by the family of Hercules Dousman, a frontier entrepreneur who amassed a fortune in the fur trade and other frontier investments. The mansion has just undergone a top-to-bottom documentary restoration that has returned the Dousman home to the splendor of its 1890s heyday, using British Arts and Crafts interior designs inspired by famed designer William Morris.

P.O. Box 65, 521 Villa Louis Road
Prairie du Chien, WI

Contact Info:

Email: villalouis@wisconsinhistory.org
Phone: 608-326-2721
Fax: 608-326-5507