Somewhere along a busy Ohio highway, ten bright yellow letters spell out a promise on a curved barn roof, and most drivers laugh before they even slow down. Then they pull off the exit, walk inside, and discover a wonderland of cheese wheels, homemade fudge, and free samples that make leaving nearly impossible.
What looks like a corny roadside gimmick turns out to be a decades-old family treasure worth the detour. Come hungry, bring a cooler, and prepare to lose track of time.
A Yellow-Signed Barn Just Off Interstate 71
Ten yellow signs marching across a curved barn roof do the advertising here, and they’ve been catching eyes off Interstate 71 for years. Located at 668 US-250 in Ashland, Ohio, the shop is impossible to miss once you spot that cheerful spelling stretched over the rooftop.
Travelers going between Cleveland and Cincinnati, or Pittsburgh and points west, treat this exit as a required pit stop. One visitor admitted passing it countless times, chuckling at the name, before finally stopping and walking away thoroughly impressed.
The building itself is a genuine converted dairy barn, and when it first opened the lower level still housed farm animals. That old-country bones-and-timber character survives inside, mixed with bright, spotless floors and the smell of fresh cheese and chocolate.
Part cheese shop, part candy store, part cafe, and part gift emporium, the place defies easy labels. Regulars call it a destination rather than a quick stop, and plenty of them plan whole road trips around it.
Whatever you expected from a barn full of cheese, the reality tends to be bigger and friendlier.
A Radio Traded for a Wheel of Swiss
The whole story starts with a swap that sounds almost too charming to be true. Back in the early 1900s, Grandpa Yarman traded his portable RCA radio for a wheel of Ohio Swiss cheese and opened a cheese house in West Salem, Ohio.
That single trade planted a family seed that keeps growing. In 1978, Grandma and Grandpa Baum, along with their daughter Ronda and her husband Dick Poorbaugh, opened the Ashland location that travelers know today.
Grandpa Baum joined the operation full-time in 1991, and the family thread never broke. The business remains family-owned across third and fourth generations now, with Ronda and Dick’s daughter Mistie Poorbaugh running a second location.
You can feel that lineage in the details, right down to the old-time cash registers still ringing up orders throughout the store. One traveler noted how much they appreciated those vintage registers, a small touch that ties the present back to the beginning.
What began with a bartered radio has become an Ohio institution welcoming roughly 100,000 visitors a year. Not bad for a wheel of Swiss.
Cheddar Aged Since 2004, Cut Straight From the Wheel
Serious cheese lovers make the trip for one thing above all: cheddar with real age behind it. The shop keeps a lineup that includes a 6 Year Cheddar, a 19-Year Cheddar, and a remarkable 21 Year Cheddar that has been aging since 2004.
Cheese that old develops a sharp, crumbly, almost crystalline character that mass-market blocks simply cannot match. One visitor called the 21 year aged cheddar delicious and said if they lived in Ohio they’d come back monthly just for that.
True to its roots as an old cheese house dealing in wheels of Swiss, the practice of cutting fresh runs deep here. Slices come off the wheel rather than out of a pre-sealed package, so freshness is part of the ritual.
Beyond the aged cheddars, the counter carries somewhere between 120 and 200 different varieties, from local and smoked to imported picks. Some visitors mention finding flavor combinations they’d never heard of before.
Bring a cooler if you plan to take cheese home. More than one traveler confessed their only regret was leaving without a way to keep it cold on the road.
Sampling Your Way Through the Cheese Counter
Free samples are the friendly trap here, and everyone falls for it happily. Little cubes of cheese sit out for tasting, and the staff genuinely encourage you to try before you buy.
Warm apple cider sometimes joins the sampling table on cold days, which regulars say hits perfectly after a chilly walk in from the parking lot. The tasting approach turns shopping into a slow, delicious game of discovery.
Visitors mention that sampling is exactly how they end up choosing what to buy. One traveler tried a couple of samples and settled on jalapeno cheddar beef jerky because of it, while another warned that once you taste something, leaving without it becomes impossible.
The horseradish cheese dip earns particular praise, described by one guest as so good it’s hard to stay away from. With well over a hundred varieties on hand, the sampling counter is where the overwhelming selection suddenly becomes manageable.
Cheese samples rank among the most-talked-about parts of the whole visit. Take your time, work down the row, and let your taste buds narrow the field before your wallet gets involved.
It’s the smartest way to shop a wall of cheese.
Sweeties Jumbo Chocolates and Fudge That Steals the Show
Right next to the cheese lives a candy paradise that could stand on its own. Sweeties Jumbo Chocolates, launched by Ronda Poorbaugh’s mother, fills its cases with homemade chocolates, candies, and fudge in dizzying variety.
Fudge is the headliner, and the strawberry flavor especially wins hearts. One visitor declared the strawberry fudge the best they’d ever tasted, and fudge comes up in conversation more than almost anything else in the store.
Then come the double-coated chocolate malt balls, described as reminiscent of the classic 90s candy, available in several flavors. Shoppers also rave about soft caramel chews, high-quality gummy bears, and pecan caramel paws that taste like beloved chocolate-and-nut turtles.
Prices land on the reasonable side too, which surprises people given the homemade quality. One regular called the candy shop delicious and very reasonably priced, and admitted you simply cannot skip it.
Warning worth heeding: several guests joke about getting a toothache just looking at the endless sugary spread. Whether you’re a chocolate person, a fudge person, or a hard-candy person, this half of the barn has your number.
Smoked Meats and Jerky With Real Bite
Meat lovers won’t feel left out among all that cheese and candy. The shop stocks a lineup of beef jerky, hot dogs, sausages, beef sticks, and home-smoked options that round out any road-trip snack bag.
The jerky earns special affection because it breaks from the usual mold. One visitor described it as soft and juicy rather than tough and rubbery, still holding a satisfying chew, and singled out the jalapeno cheddar version with real jalapeno bits and cheddar in every bite.
Smoked meats pair naturally with the cheese counter next door, and plenty of travelers grab both to build their own picnic. Beef sticks show up again and again in shoppers’ hauls, tossed in alongside curds and candy.
Flavors run in several directions, so there’s room to experiment beyond the classics. Regulars who stop every year mention the smoked meat selection as a reliable reason to keep coming back.
Grab a few packs for the car, because these travel well and don’t need a cooler. They’re the kind of snack that makes the miles between Ohio and home go by a little faster.
Spreads, Jams, and Ohio Honey Lining the Shelves
Beyond the big-name attractions, the pantry aisles hide plenty of treasures. Twelve homemade cheese spreads anchor a shelf that also holds salad dressings, jams, jellies, pickles, and salsas.
Ohio pride shows up in the local honey and maple syrup, both produced in-state and popular with shoppers stocking their kitchens. One traveler mentioned grabbing maple syrup and honey candy along with cheese curds on their way through.
A helpful detail sets the homemade items apart: anything wearing a gold sticker is made in-house. Visitors love that little system because it lets them zero in on the shop’s own creations, from the dips to the bakery mixes.
Dips get repeat praise, showing up often among the things people can’t stop eating. The dill pickle mix, described as crunchy, salty, and savory with a strong dill punch, also has a loyal following.
Because these jars need no refrigeration, they’re the easiest souvenirs to carry home. Fill a basket with spreads and preserves, and you’ll be spreading a little bit of that barn on toast for weeks afterward.
It’s edible proof you stopped.
The Cafe Counter and Homemade Ice Cream
Hungry for more than snacks? The on-site cafe turns a shopping trip into a proper meal, serving deli sandwiches, homemade soups, milkshakes, and scoops of homemade ice cream.
The lunch counter draws steady praise for fresh, satisfying food. One guest raved about an Italian sub, potato salad, and ham and bean soup eaten in a gazebo overlooking the pond, calling the whole meal fresh and delicious.
Portions and prices feel honest, too. Another visitor picked up a Monte Carlo sandwich, iced tea, and potato salad for around fourteen dollars and walked away pleased.
Ice cream deserves its own spotlight, especially on a warm day. One late arrival dashed in just before closing and scored a two-scoop waffle cone of black cherry over s’mores, calling it creamy and tasty, with the staff cheerfully pointing the way.
Homemade ice cream comes up again and again as a favorite finish. Grab a table on the patio or in a gazebo by the water, and you’ve got yourself a relaxed break that feels far removed from the rush of the interstate outside.
Friendly Faces and an Almost Sparkling Cleanliness
Warmth is the ingredient that ties everything together here. Staff aim to treat customers like family, and visitors mention friendly employees more than almost any other single thing.
The kindness feels genuine, not scripted. One traveler recalled spending hours tasting cheese, eating lunch, and simply chatting with workers who actually seemed to love their jobs, while another drove in from Pittsburgh and hoped to see the same helpful cheese-shop staffer on a return trip.
Cleanliness draws nearly as much attention. Guests describe the space as bright, spotless, and wholesome, with one playfully calling it an almost eerie level of sterile cleanliness under all that old-school character.
That combination of friendliness and tidiness gives the place a comforting, nostalgic glow. A few visitors said it reminded them of somewhere they grew up going, a spot they later brought their own children to enjoy.
Recent updates have made the outdoor area livelier and more comfortable, with improved ramps and ADA accessibility earning specific praise. It all adds up to a stop that feels welcoming to just about everyone who wanders in off the highway, first-timers and lifelong regulars alike.
Who Should Pull Off the Exit
Road-trippers are the natural crowd here, and the location practically begs for a break. Travelers crossing Ohio between big cities treat it like a legendary pit stop, the kind you just have to check out when you spot the signs.
Families find plenty to love, from ice cream cones to activities and a huge outdoor patio with a pond and gazebos. One guest called it a fun place to stretch their legs mid-drive, and kids and grown-ups alike gravitate toward the sample tables.
Truckers get real consideration too. A commercial driver praised the large dirt lot, designated big-vehicle parking, and a truck stop across the street, plus a quiet, wholesome environment perfect for a genuine rest.
Food-curious shoppers who like to graze, sample, and discover new flavors will be in heaven, while gift hunters can browse baking mixes, spices, teas, and branded trinkets. Some devoted fans even collect the shop’s shirts.
If you crave homemade quality, friendly service, and a little quirky Ohio charm all under one roof, this barn was practically built for you. Bring an appetite and a sense of curiosity.
Planning Your Visit and a Final Word
Getting here is easy once you know the details. The shop sits at 668 US-250 in Ashland, Ohio, right off Interstate 71, with a big parking lot and room for larger vehicles.
Reach them by phone at +1 419-281-3202 or browse online, since they offer ordering and shipping too.
Hours run 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday, with a shorter Sunday stretch from 11 AM to 5 PM. Regulars suggest arriving earlier in the day, since the place fills up quickly and the samples draw a crowd.
Prices land in fair territory for the homemade quality, and the free tastings mean you’ll never buy blind. Do yourself a favor and pack a cooler if cheese is on your list, a tip echoed by more than one traveler who wished they had.
Whether you come for the 21 year cheddar cut fresh from the wheel, the strawberry fudge, or simply a friendly break from the road, this yellow-roofed barn tends to exceed the low expectations its name invites. Stop once, and you’ll likely find yourself plotting a return trip before you’ve even finished your samples.