Biggest, craziest ice creams to cool down with

Take your ice cream game up a notch or 2!

Nothing pairs better with a hot summer’s day than a cold ice cream cone. West Virginia has no shortage unique sweet treats to help beat the heat.

Whether you’re team chocolate, vanilla or strawberry, stop by any of these shops for some of the biggest and craziest frozen desserts this side of the Mississippi River!

1. Foot-tall cones

Dairy Creme Corner
A foot-tall ice cream cone can only be considered as “small” at Fairmont’s Dairy Creme Corner. Boasting the biggest cones in town, Dairy Creme Corner may also serve up the biggest cones in the state.

If cones aren’t your thing, try one of their “Avalanches,” which are ice cream treats with blended candy pieces.

2. Grape-pineapple ice cream

Austin’s Home-Made Ice Cream
This Ceredo-based ice cream shop offers about 35 flavors at a time. The fruity, hand-scooped ice cream comes in favorites like banana (with real banana!) and peach (with real peach!) Their most famous? Grape-pineapple!

3. Paw paw ice cream

Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream
If you are looking for a more sophisticated take on homemade ice cream, stop by Ellen’s in Charleston to snag a cone full of mocha almond, dutch chocolate or espresso oreo. This Capitol Hill staple rotates weekly flavor specials, too.

Catch the “paw paw ice cream” if you can! Don’t know what a paw paw is? Don’t worry, most folks don’t. But it kind of tastes like a mango-pineapple-banana.

4. Amaretto ice cream

The Custard Stand
A beloved West Virginia restaurant with 6 locations, The Custard Stand serves hot dog chili alongside some of the tastiest ice cream cones. Soft-serve flavors can range from cheesecake and amaretto to maple nut and tutti frutti.

5. Hot-demand desserts

Toni’s Ice Cream
Toni’s raspberry soft serve ice cream in Clarksburg is legendary. You may have to wait in a line that wraps around the block, but it’s worth it.

6. THE most epic banana split

Poky Dot
What do you call 9 scoops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, covered in chocolate, strawberry and pineapple topped with peanuts, whipped cream and cherries?

At Fairmont’s Poky Dot, it’s called the “humongous banana split.” Get an extra spoon, this behemoth is for sharing!

7. Treats with a view

The Hinton Dairy Queen
No other Dairy Queen in the state has a view quite like the one in Hinton. Overlooking the New River, they serve up the typical Blizzards and cones (plus some unique family recipes you’ll only find at this particular DQ)— all while taking in the beautiful scenery of West Virginia.

8. Dole Whip

Howdy’s Dari-Owl
You know it’s officially summer when this Brooke County ice cream shop opens. Try their fruity Dole Whip— the only spot in the state that serves the Disney-favorite frozen dessert.

9. Old-fashioned ice creams

The Corner Shop
Located in historic Bramell, The Corner Shop is an old-fashioned soda fountain that scoops up homemade ice cream in a variety of flavors. On top of that, they have just about any topping you could want: marshmallow, gummy worms, peanut butter chips, coconut shreds and more.

10. Peanut butter pickle ice cream

Gritt’s Farm
This farm in Buffalo created a peanut butter pickle ice cream last fall, and plans to make it again! Plus, keep an eye out for some other ice cream surprises this year.

Where’s your favorite spot to cool down with a scoop (or 2) of West Virginia ice cream?

This post was last updated on July 24, 2020