Beat the Heat with a Soda Fountain Treat!

July is National Ice Cream Month. In the South, we’ve become adept at ways to beat the summer heat and ice cream is just about one of the best ways around. Kids love it, grown-ups love it, teens love it.

Why not make your quest for ice cream an adventure? Arkansas is fortunate enough to still have a nice variety of old-fashioned ice cream parlors available. There are original historic ones still in working order and there are brand-new shiny ones. Pack the car and head off to some town you’ve never been and have a frosty concoction. Here are some of the ones to try.

  1. Family Shoe & Dry Goods, Calico Rock 
    A step back in time, this venue is a lunch counter with an old-time soda fountain as well as shoes, clothing and unusual gifts.
     
  2. Cherry’s Olde-Tyme Soda Fountain, Hope 
    Menu includes soups, specialty sandwiches, and quiche
     
  3. Ozark Café, Jasper
    The history of this soda fountain in Arkansas goes back 100 years. The century-old café features burgers, steaks and seafood in addition to its soda fountain offerings.
     
  4. Jones Drug Store, Lepanto
    Features an original soda fountain from days of the past.
     
  5. Purple Cow, Little Rock
    Two locations serve up premium, hand-dipped shakes from the soda fountain; also offers gourmet burgers and diner specialties.
     
  6. Palace Drug Store & Soda Fountain, Mammoth Spring
    Along with the soda fountain, this lunch counter serves soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts, and has a selection of gifts.
     
  7. Woods Pharmacy, Mountain View
    Soda fountain menu includes ice cream sodas, cones, phosphates, shakes, malts, sundaes, banana splits; food menu includes sandwiches, salads.
     
  8. Futrell Pharmacy, Pocahontas
    One of the oldest pharmacies in Arkansas to remain in the same location; features an old-fashioned soda fountain.