Tillamook Creamery
Dairy · Tillamook County
4165 N Hwy 101, Tillamook, OR 97141
Highlights
See cheese making, enjoy samples, ice cream, pizza, & gifts
See cheese making, enjoy samples, ice cream, pizza, & gifts
"A top attraction in Tillamook where the brand’s cheddar cheese is made. Visitors can take a self-guided tour, watch the cheese-making process, try samples, and enjoy dining options including ice cream and cheese dishes." - Molly Allen
"Cheese cubes hang from the ceiling in this creamery’s newly renovated Visitors Center, which also features such memorabilia as a 1927 butter churner and a stamp used to authenticate packaged blocks as pure Tillamook cheese. Most impressive is the view of the factory floor, where chunks of cheese as big as milk crates roll down a conveyor belt and “Cheddar Master” vats process up to 15,000 pounds of cheese at a time. Each day, as if to defy the stillness of the nearby Tillamook State Forest, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) processes one million pounds of milk and churns out at least 170,000 pounds of cheese. The creamery is both a marvel of cheese engineering and a slice of cheese history. Tillamook County’s first cheese factory opened in 1894, and 32 more would quickly follow suit. Undeterred by the cosmopolitan glare, a Tillamook cheese even won the grand prize at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The local cheese-making talent consolidated in 1909 to form a co-op, which still operates today as the Tillamook Creamery and uses a cheddar recipe first developed in the 19th century. The spirit of excellence, evidently, has not waned. In 2017, TCCA took home first place in the category of “Mature Cheddar Aged over 48 Months (All Milks)” from the American Cheese Society. Cheese enthusiasts can check out Tillamook Creamery to see part of the cheesemaking magic in action. At the visitor center, you’ll snag a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the production and packaging process via a viewing gallery that overlooks the production floor. There’s also a classic ice cream counter, wood fired pizza oven, and of course, cheese samples." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"The farmer-led cooperative creamery Tillamook is currently running a virtual auction with multiple one-of-a-kind items up for grabs. All proceeds will be donated to the American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit that works to preserve farmland. The auction is currently live on eBay, giving Tillamook fans the chance to bid on items such as a Tillamook-branded 1962 Volkswagen bus, a night at the Tillamook Creamery for 25 guests inclusive of meals and curated activities, a Smeg fridge stocked with cheese, and a 40-pound block of Tillamook’s 2012 maker’s reserve cheddar—the longest-aged and biggest block the creamery has ever released. Bidding closes on October 19 at 4 p.m. The auction is part of Tillamook’s All For Farmers initiative, which is now in its third year and has helped protect over 10,000 acres of farmland nationwide in addition to assisting over 330 farmers, many of which belong to underserved communities in the agriculture industry, such as farmers of color, female farmers, and LGBTQ+ farmers." - Janey Wong
"The chefs head to Tilamook Creamery on the coast of Oregon to explore cheddar cheese, which will be the star of the dish." - Susan Stapleton
"At this creamery’s modern barn facility, guests can take a self-guided tour through interactive exhibits outlining Tillamook’s process of creating delicious dairy treats. Walk around the observation deck, which overlooks the factory floor, to get a bird’s eye view of the cheesemaking process before stocking up on reserve cheeses at the factory’s large gift shop. The shop also features a bevy of Oregon-made products to round out a charcuterie board. The creamery is open seven days a week at limited capacity. Food and ice cream are available to-go only, so grab yourself some Tillamook fried cheese curds, classic mac n’ cheese, and a scoop of Oregon Hazelnut Salted Caramel ice cream before you leave. Savvy guests can beat the weekend lines by ordering ahead here." - Janey Wong
