Wisconsin Cream Puff Pavilion gets $12.5M upgrade, returns to historic name
Wisconsin State Fair renovates iconic cream puff pavilion with $12.5M upgrade, expanding guest areas and adding a state-of-the-art kitchen in the historic Dairy Building.
Wisconsin State Fair renovates iconic cream puff pavilion with $12.5M upgrade, expanding guest areas and adding a state-of-the-art kitchen in the historic Dairy Building.
Wisconsin State Fair renovates iconic cream puff pavilion with $12.5M upgrade, expanding guest areas and adding a state-of-the-art kitchen in the historic Dairy Building.
The home of one of Wisconsin State Fair’s most popular and tastiest attractions is getting a makeover while adopting an old name.
The Original Cream Puff Pavilion will be renamed to The Dairy Building. The renaming is in celebration of the 101-year-old building’s history.
“We really wanted to take this building back to its original state,” Executive Director of Wisconsin State Fair Park Shari Black said. “The reason the cream puff began in the first place was because it wanted to help promote agriculture in Wisconsin and we feel like naming it back to its original name of The Dairy Building is really helping promote agriculture.”
Remodeling of the building began at the end of last year’s state fair. The new building will include a state-of-the-art kitchen as well as an expanded guest area for fairgoers to enjoy their sweet treat.
“This new state-of-the-art bakery will help us improve our efficiency in serving our iconic cream puff,” Black said.
The project costs an estimated $12.5 million. That money is fully funded through the Wisconsin State Fair’s revenue fund.
The Dairy Building is one of a few projects the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds is currently undergoing.
The building is expected to be completed by late June to early July. Wisconsin’s State Fair begins July 31.
Wisconsin State Fair Park under multiple renovations
Looking out from I-94 Interstate passing Wisconsin State Fair Park, it’s easy to see construction being done near the U.S. Cellular Main Entrance signage.
That project is just one of multiple renovation undertakings the state fair park is currently undergoing this spring as they prepare for this year’s state fair.
“I think the reason that we do these improvements is for the fair experience,” Shari Black, CEO and Executive Director of Wisconsin State Fair Parks said. “we're so fortunate for the governor's office and working with us on these projects. We had a number of infrastructure projects that needed to happen as well that fairgoers don't really see.”
One of the main focuses for the state fair park was alleviating traffic and increasing safety measures in the busiest areas of the fairgrounds. The North Grandstand area is completely torn up and will include new asphalt and traffic markings as well as extra shade and pathways.
“This is an area that has a lot of activity with agriculture, people, movement, vehicle movement, and we're trying to improve that to make that safer for all, as well as esthetically pleasing to our fairgoers,” Black said.
One of the more popular buildings in the park, Cream Puff Pavilion, is currently being remodeled and will go under a new name. That project began shortly after the end of last year’s fair.
The Milwaukee Mile Speedway is also under construction in preparation for the upcoming Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250, a race a part of the IndyCar Series. Safety walls on the first and second turns are being added to the racetrack to protect the racers and those in the field.
All the projects at the fairgrounds are expected to be complete by late June to earl July.
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