The Ultimate Northwoods Ice Cream Guide
By Karsen Daus
As we see the unofficial end of Summer approaching, our cravings for ice cream remind us that there’s still time to enjoy tasty treats that our area businesses have to offer.
Whether you are an ice cream connoisseur or simply find yourself screaming for ice cream in the Northwoods, this guide is for you!
Our list is in alphabetical order by community. If you don’t see your favorite ice cream stop listed, please email us the information.
Twisted Ice Cream
Antigo
Open: Noon to 8:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
The trifecta: Fresh gelato, soft serve, and Chocolate Shoppe ice cream. This premium ice cream shop even offers alcohol infused gelato, for those 21 years and older. Enjoy one of the four flavors of Dole Whip or one of the featured sundaes!
Ice Shanty Drive-In and Mini Golf
Boulder Junction
Open daily 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Grab an ice cream, burger and fries before you head off to putt at the mini golf course. This drive-in features a new flurry of the week to entice anyone with a sweet tooth. Stop by to chill, putt and grill!
Mad Dog Jake’s
Boulder Junction
Open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday through Saturday
11:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday
Dishing out Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Vienna beef hot dogs and many more scrumptious items.
Boat House Grill and Creamery
Conover
Open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Thursday through Sunday
Closed Monday through Wednesday
Grab an order of funnel cake fries and a scoop of one of the tasty ice cream flavors and dine outside in the boat seating for an unforgettable experience.
Yeti’s Drive In
Crandon and Eagle River
Open: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Get your ice cream by carhop or enjoy counter service specialty sakes and flurries to satisfy your sweet tooth. Stop the melt by sitting inside our airconditioned shop!
Country Store of Eagle River
Eagle River
Open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday
9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday
Award winning fudge, caramel, peanut brittle and chocolate confections made in-store! Grab a scoop or two of ice cream while you browse the extensive candy selection.
Dairy Queen
Eagle River and Rhinelander
Open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Closed at 9:00 pm on Sunday in Eagle River
Classic soft-serve ice cream, signature shakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes and ice cream cupcakes found at this longtime ice cream and food chain.
Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs
Eagle River
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Found only at the Eagle River location, this Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs proudly serves Dan’s homemade ice cream. Come enjoy the unique and delicious homemade ice cream flavors and take home a bag of gourmet popcorn, jerky or potato puffs.
Peanut’s Ice Cream and Cookie Dough
Eagle River
Open daily Noon to 9:30 pm
The best stop for Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, homemade popsicles, and ready-to-eat cookie dough in the Northwoods. Featuring gluten-free and dairy-free items.
Pirates Hideaway
Eagle River
Open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday
11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Thursday through Saturday
11:00 am to 8:00 pm, Sunday
Proudly serving 16 flavors of Cedar Crest ice cream, floats, shakes and malts right on the Chain of Lakes! Find several dairy-free flavors here. Come by boat or car to enjoy ice cream while playing lawn games and enjoying the live entertainment.
The Sawbuck
Land O’ Lakes
Open: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday
9:00 am to 1:00 pm Sunday
Closed Monday
Take in the greenery while satisfying your icy craving with Cedar Crest ice cream. The newly renovated café offers Collective Coffee, lattes and espressos alongside delectable ice cream.
Boardwalk Ice Cream and Fudge
Minocqua
Open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday
Open until 4:00 pm on Sunday
A part of the Cheese Board, come to enjoy Chocolate Shoppe ice cream, gelato and homemade fudge!
Briq’s Soft Serve
Seven locations including Minocqua and Rhinelander
Time varies based on location.
This family-operated chain of soft serve ice cream shops serves delicious soft serve cones, slushies, floats or whips, smoothies, shakes and malts, flurries and specialty frozen confections. Home of the one-pound cone!
Kilwins
Minocqua
Open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday through Thursday
10:00am to 7:00 pm, Friday and Saturday
Making the Kilwins Original Recipe Ice Cream since 1985, this shoppe features over 40 of the highest-quality unique and delicious flavors. Using antibiotic-free, rBST-free milk and cream from family farms ensures the quality of this ice cream.
Shabby Shack Ice Cream
Pelican Lake
Open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm through August
Featuring homemade ice cream waffle nachos, soft serve, 30 flavors of Cedar Crest ice cream, sundaes, slushies and more! Whether you are a classic ice cream lover, dairy free or low fat, there is a delicious treat for you here!
Sweets, Treats, and More
Phelps
Open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday
8:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Crafting donuts, fresh-squeezed lemonade, specialty sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, banana splits and selling pints of delicious Cedar Crest ice cream since 2014.
Northwoods Greenhouse & Ice Cream
Prentice
Open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Closed: Wednesday
Take a moment to smell the flowers and stroll through the greenhouse with a scoop, or two, of Cedar Crest Ice Cream.
À La Mode Ice Cream and Coffee Shop
Rhinelander
Open daily from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm in the Summer
Located inside WashSmart, this shop offers ice cream, cookies, fresh coffee and more.
Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe
Rhinelander
Open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Sunday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Homemade chocolates, truffles, caramel apples, nuts, fudge and gelato can be found at this sweet stop! Fall in love with freshly made authentic gelato in the shop or share the love at your next special event with catering options.
Cathy’s Ice Cream n’ Candy Shoppe
St. Germain
Open daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Debuted in 1985 as St. Germain’s first ice cream shop, Cathy’s has been dishing up sweet treats for 38 years! Featuring gluten-free cones and ice cream alternatives, this shop has the perfect scoop for all.
The Corner Store Sayner
Sayner
Open daily 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
With an ever-rotating selection of your favorite Cedar Crest flavors you’re sure to fill your hankering for ice cream at this stop! Offering non-dairy options from Ben and Jerrys within the store.
Lick-A-Dee Splitz
Three Lakes
Open daily 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Featuring specialty sundaes, splits, smoothies, shakes, malts and ice cream cones. This is a one-stop shop for every frozen-treat lover in your family!
Big Bear Mini Golf and Ice Cream
Tomahawk
Open daily from Noon to 9:00 pm
There are 16 mouthwatering ice cream flavors to choose from by Cedar Crest and Kemps, shaved ice and 18 holes of mini golf found at this entertaining stop.
Windmill Ice Cream Shoppe
Tomahawk
Open: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Daily
Operated since 1993, this iconic historical landmark proudly serves Cedar Crest ice cream. With 28 flavors to choose from, there is surely something here for everyone!
What’s the Scoop
Woodruff
Open: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Daily
With more than 33 flavors, What’s the Scoop features Chocolate Shoppe ice cream, no sugar added, low-fat and non-fat frozen yogurt, flurries, floats, malts, ice cream pies, jumbo cookies, shakes and sundaes.