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"Ice Cream," You ScreamBy Perri Black and Lillian S. Black It’s a sure sign that summer is on the way. One by one, like a string of crocuses defying the lingering windy, cold of spring, ice cream stands start opening up along Route 302 from Fryeburg to Windham, offering a chilly, sweet taste of winter when it is most welcome. I am not really an ice cream fan and will order the smallest chocolate cone wherever I go, so to present a broader and fairer view of what is available, my niece, Lily, agreed to help me with the research. She is an ice cream aficionado with an adventurous sweet tooth and also a perceptive reviewer. We diligently sampled the wares at most of these stands to produce this listing for our readers. Of course, you may discover more places during your travels in the lakes region and we both wish you happy, sweet summertime indulgences wherever you go. Useful tip: Bring along a cooler and plastic containers so you can take some goodies home.
1. Froagies Ice Cream Route 302, Fryeburg (next to Dippity Dog Grooming), (207) 935- 2669, open 7 days a week, 11:30am – 9pm In addition to over thirty flavors of Blake’s Ice Cream (made in New Hampshire), Froagies also offers an amazing range of more than thirty Hood soft serve flavors, as well as frappes, floats, doggie sundaes and Richie’s Italian Ice. I was particularly impressed by their extensive list of frozen drinks, most of them dairy free. Prices range from $1.50 to $6.50 and they also sell T-shirts, which have become popular souvenirs. Ask about their discount card if you intend to be a repeat customer. 2. The Homestead Scoop & Gallery Route 5, at the turn off to the transfer station, Lovell, (207) 925-9005, open 7 days, 9am-8pm A little off the beaten path but worth it, The Homestead serves up Hershey’s Ice Cream in about twenty hard serve flavors and three soft serve flavors from a quaint building on the site of the owner’s grandparents’ homestead. Prices are extremely reasonable, with a kiddie cone at just $1.70, including tax. Enjoy a cone, a frappe or a dog on the front porch and then step inside to browse a delightful selection of handcrafted home decor including quilts, wrought iron, furniture and artwork. You can even ship your UPS packages here! 3. The Scoop Route 302, West Bridgton (look for the colorful sign and OPEN flag), (207) 647-9091, open 7 days, 12 – 9 or 10pm My family’s “go to” place—conveniently close to home, open late, and featuring delicious Maine-made Gifford’s Ice Cream, as well as lobster rolls and hot dogs. A wide range of cones, sundaes and frappes with a variety of toppings are on offer, ranging from $2.45 to $6.00. Fifteen flavors were available the day we visited, but many more will be added to the list as the season progresses. You can also treat your pup to a doggie sundae or yourself to a souvenir T-shirt. 4. The Ice Cream Parlor at Main Street Variety 144 Main Street, Bridgton, (207) 647-2137 open 7 days The Ice Cream Parlor is actually part of the Main Street Variety convenience store, which also makes pizza and sandwiches. They sell 35 flavors of Blake’s ice cream in cones, sundaes, banana splits and frappes, as well as sherbet and other frosty treats. There’s plenty of inside seating or you can take it with you on a tour of Main Street and Pondicherry Park. 5. The Gazebo 30 Portland Road, Bridgton, (207) 647-2231 open 11am to 10pm This cheerful venue is
really a fast food stand
that also sells a range of
Blake’s Ice Cream (from
New Hampshire) and
Oakhurst soft serve. All
types of cones, ncluding 6. Brookside Ice Cream Shop 28 Main Street (across from the Village Tie-Up), Harrison, open 7 days, 12.30-9pm Although not exactly on Route 302, Harrison is close enough to be included on our list. Brookside showcases at least sixteen flavors of Shain’s of Maine Ice Cream, plus vanilla and chocolate soft serve, in all types of cones ranging from $1.50-$6.00. Some dairy-free choices are available. Colorful tables and chairs are arranged out front and overlook the brook for customers to relax and enjoy their ice cream. 7. Lakeside Dairy Bar 933 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302 – next to Long Lake Marina), Naples, (207) 650-5678, open 7 days, probably 12-9 but call to make sure. Located on the Long Lake side of Route 302, this dairy bar features over twenty unique flavors of Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream from New Hampshire, as well as chocolate and vanilla soft serve, ranging from $2-$6. Upon request, the friendly staff will also cater to people with food allergies. You can sit under the colorful umbrellas at their picnic tables or walk with your treats down to the Causeway for a great view of the lakes. $2.45 to $6.00. Fifteen flavors were available the day we visited, but many more will be added to the list as the season progresses. You can also treat your pup to a doggie sundae or yourself to a souvenir T-shirt. 8. Causeway Dairy Bar 894 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302 – across from Sandy’s Flight Deck), Naples, (207) 595-9269, open 7 days, 11am-11pm Just down the road and across the street
from Lakeside, the Causeway Dairy Bar
has the most varied and extensive menu
we came across, with prices ranging from 9. Raymond’s Frozen Custard Gourmet Ice Cream Route 302, Casco, (207) 655-1116 open 7 days, 11am-8pm The main attraction here is Ray’s eight flavors of luscious, homemade, custard-style ice cream, the perfect excuse to break your diet if you ever need one. Floats, frappes, cones and sundaes made with chocolate, vanilla and black raspberry (Lily’s favorite) are always on the menu, and Ray whips up at least five additional custard flavors each week. Most items range from $2.99-$6.75. There is also a food counter where you can order all-beef steakburgers and hot dogs, french fries and onion rings, as well as a farm stand featuring fresh, local produce. 10. The Mosquito Now in their 18th season, this place is
definitely one of the most popular in the
area. It features a total of fifty-four flavors,
including about forty of Blake’s Ice Cream
as well as frozen yogurt, sorbet and sherbet,
all served in cones, sundaes, shakes and
floats created by their “Frozen Confection
Specialists.” They also offer a long list of 11. Cherries on Top 1252 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302), Raymond (207) 576-2329, open Monday to Friday 5-9pm Saturday and Sunday 11am-9pm Cherries features about thirty flavors of Only 8 Frozen Yogurt, as well as nearly twenty flavors of Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream. Both are served in a variety of ways including cones, milkshakes, sundaes, parfaits, smoothies and “Cherries Blasts.” Their prices are also some of the lowest we found, ranging from $1.75-$5.50, and they are only a couple doors down from the new donut shop in town, which might negate any diet bonus points you gained by ordering low-cal frozen yogurt! 12. The Ice Cream Dugout 3 Storm Drive (off 302 just north of Seacoast Fun Park), Windham, (207) 894-RSOX, www. icecreamdugout.com, open Sunday-Thursday 12-10pm and Friday-Saturday 12-11pm Red Sox fans will love this one. Shain’s of Maine Ice Cream is the big hitter here, stepping up to bat in creative baseball themed sundaes, cones, shakes, frappes, floats and sodas. Much of their nearly fifty flavor lineup is on offer daily, and sorbet, frozen yogurt, soft serve, parfaits and specialty drinks are also in the bullpen. You can even get a “Big Puppy Sundae” for your favorite pooch. Don’t forget to ask about their “Dugout Club Card” to earn a discount if you’re with a crowd or plan to visit more than once during the summer. 13. Skippy Scoops 78 Tandberg Trail (Route 115) Windham, (207) 893-8026 open 7 days, noon-9pm Just a little ways off Route 302 beyond Walgreen’s, Skippy Scoops offers twentyseven flavors of Maine-made Gifford’s Ice Cream in various sizes of cones, frappes and sundaes. They also have chocolate, vanilla and chocolate-vanilla twist soft serve. Prices are in the standard $2.50-$6.50 range and there are picnic tables out front where you can sit and enjoy your treats.
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