Planeview Travel Plaza History – About Us

Dirk and Ellen’s story begins in Friesland, the Netherlands. Dirk grew up on a Dairy farm and Ellen lived not far from him on a crop farm. Dirk studied agriculture, and in 2001 took a farm tour in the US. Soon he returned with his Mother, and visited Wisconsin. They were excited about the friendly people they met, and the American way of life. Dirk decided he wanted to remain in the US permanently!

His adoptive family, Ron and Judy Brath, welcomed him into their home, and looked for business opportunities here. In 2005, Ron discovered that Planeview Travel Plaza was for sale. He helped throughout the sale, and Dirk became a Wisconsin business owner! During 2005 Ellen visited Dirk twice while he worked on a Wisconsin farm, and she began working on a Friesian horse farm nearby. Owners Kris and Terry Fulweiler became Ellen’s adoptive American parents.

In March of 2007, Dirk asked Ellen to marry him and they were married June 1st, 2007 in their hometown. Ron and Judy and Kris and Terry were among their guests.