What is The Fuzzy Pig? You could venture 20 guesses and still not come close. But if farmer-turned-entrepreneur Dick Kraus has his way, the "delightful day trip secret" that is The Fuzzy Pig Country Mall -- just outside Whitewater, about a 50-minute drive from Milwaukee -- will soon be well known to residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha and Southeast Wisconsin.

Kraus, 55, is the mastermind and driving force behind a 15-year odyssey to transform a chunk of one of the family farms two miles outside of Whitewater, at N. 8660 Clover Valley Rd., into a unique Country Mall and dining destination. He has been assisted in his 15-year quest by brother-in-law Roger Gransee, 59.

"People constantly ask me what it is. I can tell you what The Fuzzy Pig isn't," observed Kraus. "It isn't a little craft store, it isn't a small antique shop, or little roadside shop. You really have to see it to believe it. It is a delightful day trip secret for the good citizens of Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. Take a ride out and visit us, I believe you will enjoy yourselves."

The Fuzzy Pig is a hand-renovated barn lovingly converted into a distinct Country Mall using only authentic antique building materials from regional barns such as rough-hewn and hand-hewn, century-old woods and aged metal shingles. The family house next door to the Country Mall has been completely gutted and transformed into the rustic and enchanting Heritage House restaurant. A '50s-style Malt and Snack Shop, and a Gourmet Coffee Shop were thrown in for good measure.

"Fuzzyville," as Dick Kraus refers to the entire complex anchored by The Fuzzy Pig Country Mall, is a 15-year labor of love located on a four-acre section of a 160-acre Kraus family farm just outside of Whitewater. Kraus owns and actively farms 1,400 acres in the region.

Every addition Kraus makes to "Fuzzyville" is calculated to improve the day trip experience for Wisconsinites, especially people living in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. "We are less than an hour away from Milwaukee and Waukesha, we really want those folks to know we are out here."

In February, Kraus broke ground on a 10,000-square-foot addition. "People have been asking for more products and giving us ideas for new lines," Kraus explained. "I figured it was time to grow again." The next phase of Fuzzyville should be complete by this autumn.

"We were driving in the middle of nowhere wondering if we had misread the directions," chuckled Deb Doerflinger, 49, of South Milwaukee. "We come upon this rustic looking barn, house, and other buildings. We walk in and we were amazed at what we saw. My lady friends and I spent hours exploring The Fuzzy Pig."

Farm Roots Lead to a Creative Entrepreneurial Vision

Dick Kraus was born on this farm. The Kraus family has farmed this and other farms they own there for generations. Along with farming, everyone in the Kraus family also possessed artistic skills. Mother Kraus baked and sold custom wedding cakes. Sister Kraus went to school for floral design. Wife Pam Kraus left teaching to join the family floral business, which Pam has successfully run for 28 years.

Dick Kraus had a slightly bigger canvas in mind for his artistic vision.

He saw an old barn and dilapidated farmhouse used for storage and envisioned transforming the structures into a one-of-a-kind Country Mall. The Fuzzy Pig is one of the family barns gutted and artistically hand restored with vintage regional materials such as hand-hewn and rough-hewn lumber from old barns in the area, transforming it into a 6,500 square-foot, three-level marvel.

"I would always go with Pam to flower and gift trade shows," observed Kraus. "I would also want to buy different things than she would. I always envisioned a different way to do this."

The Fuzzy Pig offers hundreds of eclectic and inviting product lines ranging from furniture to women's clothing to natural bath and body products to free-range meats to antiques and art.

"We were visiting friends in the area," explained Carol Ragle, 53, of Silver City, NM. "They told us we were going to love spending a day at The Fuzzy Pig. We had a wonderful day there. There is so much to see and explore. We had a great meal and then we went back and bought more stuff."