A Vermont Roadside Attraction Helps Promote Taylor Farm Cheese
April 30, 2014
The green and rusted 1947 Chevy 1 Ton Truck that Jon Wright purchased a dozen years ago sits on the side of Route 11 in Londonderry as an advertisement for Taylor Farm cheese.
The truck is something of a Vermont roadside attraction, where people stop to take photos and inquire about its make and model.
When Wright bought the truck, he thought he would restore the classic pickup and try to keep it running. But Wright, who owns Taylor Farm, eventually had a better idea. Hoping to promote his Vermont cheesemaking business, he spray painted “Vermont Cheeses!!” on a piece of wood and propped a makeshift sign across the vehicle’s driver side door.
“People ask about the truck all of the time. I often laugh because people will stop to photograph the truck, but then they won’t stop to buy cheese,” Wright jokes. “What the hell good is that?”
Wright, who makes some of the best cheese in Vermont, has spent nearly 40 years at Taylor Farm. As a teenager, he started working at Taylor Farm – a small working dairy farm – in 1975. He took over the farm in 1989 and began making cheese in 1998. The farm is perhaps best known for its award-winning, signature raw milk Gouda cheese.
Of course, the farm is also well known for the old Chevy truck parked outside, where it has stood on the side of Route 11 for about eight years. People have occasionally asked to buy the truck, but Wright says he intends to keep it.
“It won’t be sold or replaced, but I may build a shed over it to protect it,” Wright says.
For those of us who enjoy offbeat landmarks, we hope the Taylor Farm truck sticks around for many years to come.
**If You Go: Taylor Farm is located at 825 Route 11 in Londonderry.
The Vermont Cheese Trail
Rob Smart
Posted at 11:48h, 01 MayThis reminds me of another “famous” Vermont truck in Maple Corner, Calais, VT: http://chrismillerstudio.com/Sculpture_Installations_2.php
Erica
Posted at 14:25h, 01 MayHi Rob — Very nice! Vermont knows how to keep it interesting, for sure.
Scott
Posted at 10:46h, 02 MayI’ve seen it but never stopped in after all these years. I’ll make it a point to do so next time I’m going through. I love VT cheese!
Erica
Posted at 18:44h, 02 MayHi Scott – It’s a great farm. Taylor Farm cheese is fantastic! I’m looking forward to being in southern VT in a few weeks for a visit. Hope all is well!
Linda
Posted at 13:19h, 10 MayThis is great. I have been to Vermont many times, and I just love it there! Greetings from Montreal, Canada.
Erica
Posted at 20:31h, 10 MayThanks, Linda! You are not far from the Green Mountains at all. Hope you can get back to visit sometime soon. -Erica
Tamika
Posted at 17:39h, 25 JulyI love this website so much, really great work.
Erica
Posted at 17:34h, 28 JulyThank you so much! Really appreciate your kind words! -Erica
Scott
Posted at 17:00h, 03 NovemberFinally made it! Miranda (my 3.5 yo) was something of a Chicken Whisperer with a dozen or so hens following her around with food! So much fun! Very nice little place, nice people and worth a visit or two! Thanks for writing about them!
Erica
Posted at 10:21h, 05 NovemberTaylor Farm is great! Great cheese and awesome people.