Sweetwater Valley Farm

Cheese Shop and Tasting

The cheese shop is in its own building, next to the room where the farm makes its cheddar. Tasting is free. The range includes buttermilk, black pepper, roasted garlic and habanero cheddars, three hickory-smoked cheeses, Colby, Gouda and fresh curds, plus a cheese made for University of Tennessee fans.

The Farm Tour

The guided tour takes up to 20 people through a viewing area in one of the cow barns and past the feed shed, with video clips covering milking, animal care and how the dairy runs. Allow about an hour, of which 45 minutes is guided. For now the tour is a shortened, modified version: it no longer includes robotic milking, and there are no calves or milking cows on it. The farm says a new tour is coming in 2027.

Tours run at 11am and 12:30pm on most, but not all, Tuesdays to Saturdays, so check availability on the booking page before you plan the trip. Arrive 20 minutes early to sign in; latecomers move to the next free slot. Bookings are online only, never by phone, and there are no refunds. Groups of more than 20 use a separate request form. Part of the walk is outdoors and the tour goes ahead in rain, so wear comfortable shoes. Only service dogs are allowed.

Food

The Seed to Sandwich Café and the gift shop are in the barn, open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. The grill serves grilled cheese and lunch from 11am to 3pm, and hand-dipped milkshakes all day. There are no reservations; groups should come around 11am or after 2pm, when it is quieter, or pre-order through the farm's app.

Getting There

The farm is on US 11 (W. Lee Highway) in Loudon County, southwest of Knoxville, and runs on Eastern time. You need a car. In Knoxville, the Knoxville Cheese Fest takes place each May.