Did you know Le Mars, Iowa makes more ice cream than anywhere else on earth?! It’s known as the Ice Cream Capital of the World, so when we drove up to Le Mars last month,
Did you know Le Mars, Iowa makes more ice cream than anywhere else on earth?! It’s known as the Ice Cream Capital of the World, so when we drove up to Le Mars last month, we made plans to have “breakfast” at the Ice Cream Parlor.
ice cream for breakfast = winning!
Arriving in town on Wednesday morning at 11am, downtown Le Mars was quiet, and we scored a parking spot right in front of the parlor. The first thing you’ll see is a giant ice cream cone, with ice cream topped waffle benches for outdoor seating.
Being the second customer of the day, we had the whole place to ourselves. We walked around, taking pictures of the seating area adjacent to the gift shop, and learned about the history of Blue Bunny.
History of wells ice cream
Did you also know that Wells Enterprises is the largest family-owned and managed ice cream producer in the world?! In addition, it is the third largest ice cream maker in the United States, right behind Nestle and Breyers.
Paying just $250 to get his business started in 1918, Fred H. Wells delivered milk house to house in his horse-drawn wagon. However, wanting more, in 1925 Fred partnered with his brother, Harry C. Wells, and began producing ice cream under the name Wells Ice Cream Company of Sioux City.
where the name “Blue bunny” came from
Knowing they needed help making it through the Depression years, the brothers sold their company in 1929, only to return even stronger in 1935. Unable to use the Wells label on their product, the brothers needed a new name, which is when they ran a “Name That Ice Cream” contest in Sioux City.
John Vanden Brink, a Sioux City resident, submitted his brand name “Blue Bunny” after noticing how excited his son would get when they passed by department store windows and on display were blue Easter bunnies. Vanden Brink also drew the first Blue Bunny logo that the Wells brothers would go on to use for the next 70 years!
Throughout the 1950s, and again in the 1980s, the Wells family expanded the Blue Bunny production plants. New ideas and new products meant the need for a larger work space. Business was, and still is, growing!
Present day blue bunny
Today, Wells Enterprises employs over 3,000 people nation-wide, makes over 150 million gallons of ice cream every year, and a tanker full of milk arrives at Wells every hour of every day.
The manufacturing plant in Le Mars is also incredible. With the capability of making over 1 million ice cream sandwiches in one day, it also boasts a free-standing 12-story high rise freezer!
bomb pop and blue ribbon
An American classic, the bomb pop, is nationally recognized as a refreshing treat all summer long. The red, white and blue colors make it popular during holidays, and did you know Wells Enterprises produces this berry flavored delicacy?
I’m assuming you’ve also heard of Blue Ribbon ice cream. Yep, Wells makes this too. Talk about owning the frozen dessert aisle!
Upon visiting Blue Bunny’s website (https://www.bluebunny.com/), and along with information regarding these two brands, you’ll read about community involvement, find recipe ideas for your next dessert, and even browse the list of 107 ice cream flavors. Did you know that many even existed? Me neither!
what you see when you first walk in
When we first walked in, we were greeted by a grandiose staircase. Wow! Off to the right was the ice cream, and they mean it when they say you can try every flavor in their display cases!
According to locals, the ice cream parlor fan favorite is “Bunny Tracks”, but nationally their sales favor good old Vanilla.
Off to the left of the staircase is the virtual soda fountain, with memorabilia, souvenirs and black and white photos depicting the beginnings of Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
gift shop
Behind the staircase, connecting the parlor to the ice cream shop, is the gift shop. T-shirts, coffee mugs, stuffed animals, key chains, magnets and much more Blue Bunny related items are sold here.
I will be getting a T-shirt here on my next visit. I want to wear it while I travel outside of the Midwest, so people know how important this tri-state area is, and how awesome it is to live on this bountiful land.
our ice cream adventure
After walking around the parlor and taking pictures, we got our ice cream. What I find amusing, is that none of us wanted chocolate. I got Rainbow Sherbet, my step-daughter chose Cotton Candy, and her best friend had Strawberry Swirl. I guess it was a fruity kind of morning!
next level of ice cream
After enjoying our ice cream, we walked upstairs to discover the museum. We learned the impact ice cream has had on our society, both socially and culturally.
Displayed on the walls is a brief history of Blue Bunny, combined with the evolution of its logo throughout the years. Pictures and stories celebrate this family’s deep-rooted history here in Le Mars, Iowa.
interactive museum and a theater!
Also upstairs, visitors can race freezer robots, take a flavor personality quiz, and even learn about the process of making ice cream via the virtual production line.
There’s even a theater with a short film educating visitors about the history of Wells Enterprises and the Blue Bunny legacy. Make time for this, because it will really bring to light how influential the Wells family has been at putting Le Mars on the map. The quality of their products, their customer service, and the professionalism and drive (not to mention the competitiveness) of the entire Wells family, is not overlooked.
best view in town
Make your way to the outdoor balcony overlooking Central Ave in Downtown Le Mars. You’ll have the perfect view of local businesses while enjoying your ice cream under the canopy. I’ll have to make another visit at sunset so I can witness their ambiance lighting.
plan your visit
Finishing their renovation this past June, the parlor has truly stepped it up a notch. No longer a parlor, it is also a visitor’s center, right in the middle of town. Instead of being right off the highway like many visitor’s centers, this one brings you into the heart of Le Mars. This is a stop you must make when visiting Siouxland. I hope you get a chance to experience the history of ice cream, taste their quality products, and even leave with a souvenir.
Also visit their website (https://ilovewells.com/) to learn more about Blue Bunny and the parlor. Make note of their holiday hours if you plan on travelling during specific dates.
Hours:
April 1st – Sept 30th
Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 10:00 pm
Oct 1st – Mar 31st
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
I want to go visit also. Nice write-up, Kelly!