What do you think of when you think of summer? Camping trips? Beach days? How about ice cream? Whether you prefer a double superman (a Michigan thing) or a traditional vanilla cone (my personal favorite), I think we all can agree that ice cream is a vital element of summer.
Let’s discover some unique ice cream shops that are quintessentially West Michigan.
Curley Cone has been a favorite local landmark and tourist location near Gun Lake in Barry County since 1954. The 50s themed parlor is known for its premium hand-scooped and soft-serve ice cream, non-dairy frozen desserts, and baked desserts. They also make specialty coffee and have a full menu for any time of the day.
Whether you’re on the way to the beach or looking to cool off after beach day, Curley Cone is the place to go.
Looking to satisfy a sweet tooth? Located at Cannonsburg Ski Resort, The Sweet Spot offers more than the traditional ice cream shop. While they do offer premium and soft-serve ice cream, they also have plenty of options for adults, including frozen cocktails, adult floats, and specialty milkshakes.
Furniture City makes their ice cream from scratch. All of their ice cream is made in-house by their “chemical engineer” who creates rich and authentic homemade ice cream. They have a rotation of unique flavors with an always-changing menu, such as grape kool-aid and fruity pebbles. In addition, they offer vegan alternatives like vegan dark chocolate. While their batches do takes longer than the traditional parlor, the ice cream is more than worth it.
Located in the historic Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids, Jersey Junction is a neighborhood favorite. It’s a type of place where you can order candy sticks and jawbreakers the size of bowling balls. While you’re enjoying your ice cream, be sure to look up: a model train runs along tracks near the ceiling, the idea is behind the inspiration for the book The Polar Express, by local author Chris VanAllsburg. In fact, it was Chris’s mother, Doris “Chris” VanAllsburg, who founded the ice cream shop in 1963.
Elsie’s Ice Cream Shop is quickly becoming a popular attraction in Freemont, MI. Last year, they placed 2nd in Pitch North 2020, recognizing successful entrepreneurs in Newaygo, Oceana, and Lake counties.
The building was originally an old gas station, which left a beautiful overhead door for customers to soak in the summer sun.
Just east of the Kent Bike Trail in Byron Center, Houseman’s Ice Cream is known for its specialty sundaes and of course their soft serve ice cream. A perfect place for a treat after a long bike ride.
House of Flavors has a great history in West Michigan. You could say the Neal family, founders of House of Flavors in 1929, pioneered ice cream shops in West Michigan. In 1961, the plant produced 600 gallons of ice cream per hour. Today, House of Flavors in Ludington, MI produces over 25 million gallons of ice cream per year.
Fun fact: In 2016, House of Flavors Ludington won the Guinness World Record for Longest Ice Cream Dessert at 2,970 feet and 8.95 inches!
Country Dairy – Always Farm Fresh & Michigan Made
With over 1,200 cows, Country Dairy in New Era, MI is known for their Michigan-made milk, butter, cheese, and of course, ice cream! One factor that draws customers is that their ice cream is it is hormone-free. They also have Moo School which provides tours. They’re located on the Hart – Montague bike trail, so it is a very popular stop for bicyclists.
