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 Ohio’s picturesque countryside is home to one delicious destination for dairy lovers.  very year, more than 150,000 ice cream enthusiasts converge on the tiny Midwest town of Utica, Ohio (about 45 minutes northeast  of Columbus). Their mission: a visit to Ye Olde Mill, an historic 19th-century gristmill tucked into the green, rolling hills of the Licking River Valley that is home to the Velvet Ice Cream Company and Ohio’s one and only Ice Cream Museum. In addition to the museum, the mill also houses an ice cream viewing gallery, an old-fashioned 1817 ice cream parlor, a water wheel, restaurant and gift shop—all situated on 20 scenic acres that include picnic shelters, playground areas, even a pond and a grove of buckeye trees.Open from May through October, the mill offers a variety of family-oriented activities and local entertainment. First stop is the Visitor’s Center, built to resemble an old dairy barn, complete with vegetable and flower gardens, and a barnyard  and petting zoo for children. From there, visitors can tour the museum, a treasure-trove of vintage ice-cream-making paraphernalia and memorabilia. On weekdays, visitors can observe for themselves how fresh milk and sugar are magically transformed into sweet ice cream at the Velvet Ice Cream factory.Out in the picnic grove, families can enjoy clog-dancing performances, 4-H Club competitions, clown entertainment and face-painting. The mill pond is stocked with fish that children and adults are encouraged to catch and release. Special events include the Memorial Day Weekend’s Annual Ice Cream Festival and the Buckeye Tree Festival, held every second Sunday in September in honor of the state tree.  But, of course, the primary reason people gravitate here is the ice cream. The mill has been a regional landmark since 1817, but run by the Dager family since 1914. The ice cream parlor serves more than 30 different flavors that run the gamut from the four vanillas (Original, Old-Time, Homemade and Vanilla-Lovers Trio) to Candy Bar Classic and Brownie Nut Fudge as well as a changing array of toppings, fillings and concoctions. A popular favorite, called “Moose Tracks,”combines vanilla ice cream with melted Mackinac fudge spun with miniature peanut butter cups. It’s an ice cream lover’s dream!Velvet Ice Cream Company is located on State Route 13 in Utica, Ohio 43080. Ye Olde Mill is open daily May 1 through October 31, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, call 740-892-3921 or visit www.velveticecream.com. • |
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