In Portugal, it’s known as sorvete. In Japan, it’s called aisukurīmu, and for Spanish speakers it’s gelado.
Israelis maintain a custom that if you run into a friend or acquaintance three times, you are required to buy them a scoop or two of glida.
When it comes to ice cream and Maryland, the roots run as deep and textured as the rich, chocolatey base of rocky road.
For one thing, the “Old Line State” was the first recorded place in which ice cream was served in the United States. The story goes back to 1744 when Maryland Colonial Governor Thomas Bladen hosted in his home an official from Virginia named William Black. According to Black’s personal journal, Bladen served “among some rarities … some fine ice cream.” Hence, the nation’s first ice cream social took place in ye olde Annapolis.
Also, the first commercial sales of the sweet stuff came through the humble personage of Harford County native C. Jacob Fussell. A milk dealer and entrepreneur, Fussell wandered the streets of Baltimore selling cream to dairy lovers of all stripes.
In the winter of 1851, he relocated his business to Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, to manufacture ice cream and transport it to Baltimore. Two years later, he built a factory at the corner of Hillen and Exeter streets in downtown Baltimore and mass-produced ice cream for cities dotting the Eastern Seaboard, making a cool fortune.
Marylanders are long known for their passion for ice cream (not to mention snowballs, a hometown favorite). Simply mention Hendler’s. Price’s Dairy or Windy Valley Farms to an old-time Baltimorean and watch their eyes light up.
Throughout our state, you’ll find scores of boutique ice creameries dipping into this cherished Maryland tradition. Here are some of the leading ice cream establishments, dairy farms and entrepreneurs around the state, courtesy of the Maryland Office of Tourism and their “Ice Cream Trail.” Grab a cone, pick your flavor and chill out!
Eastern Shore
Chesapeake Bay Farms in Berlin (Worcester County) Enjoy homemade ice cream cones while watching the cows in a unique country setting. Kids can safely milk a robotic re-circulating cow and visit with farm animals. Retail stores in Berlin and Pocomoke City serve all Chesapeake Bay Farms’ homemade products, including hand-dipped ice cream to a wide variety of artisan cheeses and fresh, hand-stretched mozzarella made on the dairy farm.
Dumser’s Dairyland in Ocean City Located on Ocean City’s boardwalk since 1939, Dumser’s makes its own ice cream daily. Dumser’s also has a pair of restaurant locations along Coastal Highway.
Island Creamery in Berlin and Salisbury Founded in 1975, this family-owned creamery serves frozen treats using all-natural premium butterfat mix from Lancaster County cows, thus ensuring a rich, creamy ice cream inspired by flavors from local fruit or from concoctions made in their kitchen.
Justine’s in Ocean City Offering a wide array of ice cream, gelatos, sorbets and frozen desserts, Justine’s is famous for serving more than 77 classic and signature milkshakes
Nice Farms Creamery in Federalsburg (Caroline County) Come out to the farm for old-fashioned, fresh ice cream made from scratch with milk from the herd. Be Nice!
Scottish Highland Creamery in Oxford (Talbot County) Born and raised in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, Victor Barlow lived above Mr. Boni’s, an Italian ice cream parlor that originally opened in 1907. He worked at the shop as a teenager, became the manager and eventually learned the secret family recipes. He and his wife Susan opened Scottish Highland Creamery in 2005. Today, they sell more than 600 flavors, including Double Belgian Chocolate, Dulce de Leche, Mascarpone and Tiramisu.
Lockbriar Farms in Chestertown (Kent County) This family-owned fruit farm has operated since 1993, serving what it bills as “the best ice cream on the Eastern Shore and is the only farm-made, artisan ice cream company on this side of the bay.”
Central Maryland
Annapolis Ice Cream Company in Annapolis Located on Naptown’s Main Street, this shop offers ice cream made on the premises with natural and organic ingredients. Flavors range from the standards to Raspberry Chocolate Chip, Coffee Oreo (made with real coffee) and Key Lime.
Bomboy’s Home Made Ice Cream in Havre de Grace Just a hop, skip and a jump from Bomboy’s Home Made Candy, this iconic HdG creamery scoops out such creative flavors as Duck Duck Goose, Salty Dawg, Raspberry Truffle, and Kokamocha among its daily selections. Seasonal flavors include Havre de Nuts, Chocolate Explosion and Cinnamonkey. Keep an eye out for the black-and-white cow outside.
Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Bel Air With their own old-fashioned ice cream, Broom’s Bloom Dairy features more than 100 flavors, with a variety of 12-18 flavors offered daily. They also serve homemade lunches and artisan cheeses. Locally produced lamb, beef, free-range eggs, and seasonal vegetables are also available.
The Charmery (Multiple Locations around Baltimore) The Charmery is known for its inspired homemade flavors, bright and bold design aesthetic and friendly customer service. The original Hampden-based ice cream shop opened in 2013 and now has outposts in Towson, Columbia, Chevy Chase and the Union Collective in Baltimore.
Hoffman’s Home Made Ice Cream in Westminster The Hoffman family has been producing ice cream since 1947. Ravens Ripple is among the 50 flavors made during the year. Homemade ice cream sandwiches are also a favorite among customers.
Happy Cow Creamery in Union Bridge (Carroll County) In between Westminster and Gettysburg, this creamery is situated in a bucolic setting on Grand View Acres Farm, offering farm-fresh ice cream as well as USDA beef cuts, raw cow’s milk and local raw honey. Among the sweet and tasty offerings are soft-serve and hard-serve ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes and flurries. Plenty of outdoor seating, with a play area for children, adjacent to an animal pasture.
Keyes Creamery in Aberdeen Only top-of-the-line milk produced by the farm’s grass-fed cows is used to make Keyes’ specialty cheeses and ice cream. The creamery serves hand-dipped ice cream, which is made weekly on site. Quarts and pints of favorite flavors are available to take home, as well as decorated ice cream cakes and pies.
Prigel Family Creamery in Glen Arm (Baltimore County) For more than a century and across five generations, the Prigel family has been farming in Baltimore County’s Long Green Valley. Prigel Family Creamery processes milk from Bellevale Farm (the Prigels’ family farm) into fresh, nutrient-dense dairy foods from cows that graze on grass grown from organically balanced soils.
Taharka Brothers (Multiple Locations) Known for serving up classic flavors along with a perpetually evolving roster of small-batch offerings like Honey Graham, Mintflix & Chillz, Key Lime Pie, and Caramel Crunch, the Baltimore-based Taharka Brothers’ mission is to mentor and support young adults from the area. Meanwhile, check out their six kosher flavors!
Suburban Maryland (Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties)
The Dairy in University of Maryland, College Park An ice cream institution, The Dairy has made ice cream since 1924 and offers 31 flavors. It continues to receive top reviews from students, alumni and visitors.
Moorenko’s Ice Cream in Silver Spring Since 2002, Moorenko’s has crafted small-batch, ultra-premium ice cream made by hand, the old-school way. Their ice cream is made with the highest percentage of milkfat, less sugar and less air. The result is a rich, dense, creamy dessert.
Miller’s Farms of Clinton (Prince George’s County) Established in 1879 as a tobacco farm, this six-generation family-owned farm is the county’s largest vegetable producer. In 2007, Miller’s added a bakery to their produce market offering homemade ice cream, doughnuts and other baked goods. The farm is a pillar of the Clinton community.
North Market Pop Shop in Frederick This shop boasts an eye-popping selection of more than 400 constantly rotating sodas and scoops of all-natural Trickling Spring Ice Cream served in bio-degradable bowls. Vegan and lactose-free folks can enjoy soy, rice and coconut-based scoops, with gluten-free cones available.
Glamourview Creamery in Walkersville (Frederick County) Located on the former Biser farm, Glamourview is owned and operated by Emily and Craig Walton. They transformed it into a modern dairy operation with a focus on robotic automation and quality milk production. The Waltons’ backgrounds in dairy farming in Indiana and Pennsylvania contribute to Glamourview’s modern-day approach to dairy farming.
Rocky Point Creamery in Tuscarora (Frederick County) Located on the rural back roads along the Potomac, Rocky Point is the home of “Mule Food”-flavor ice cream, in honor of the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s 50th anniversary.
South Mountain Creamery in Middletown (Frederick County) South Mountain Creamery is Maryland’s first on-site dairy processing plant that delivers all-natural and farm fresh products right to your doorstep. They also have a store on the farm that sells their products.
Moo Cow Creamery in Middletown Family owned and operated at Walnut Ridge Farm since 1936, this creamery specializes in high-quality milk rich in beta-carotene and high components, producing A2/A2 organic milk, cheeses, ice cream and other farm products.
Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard in Mount Airy (Montgomery County) Woodbourne offers cow-to-cone service. The Golden Guernsey cows are grass-fed to provide double the Omega-3 fat, plus higher beta-carotene content to provide extra goodness.
Southern Maryland
Heritage Chocolates in Leonardtown (St. Mary’s County) Heritage offers handmade gelato to go along with its many classic chocolates and candies, such as caramels, brittles and toffee. The shop has added enrobed Oreos, graham crackers, caramel apples and cream-filled chocolates. All of their 75 extraordinary recipes pair wonderfully with their gelato.
Landon’s Ice Cream in La Plata (Charles County) Landon’s crafts high-quality ice creams at home, all made on the premises. Landon also supplies ice cream to restaurants throughout the county.
Western Maryland
Deliteful Dairy in Williamsport (Washington County) All of Deliteful’s goods are made from animals that graze the 160 acres of the family farm. When visiting, the owners promise you’ll see rolling green landscapes, happy cows, fresh products and the best milk you’ve ever tasted.
Lakeside Creamery in Oakland (Garrett County) With two locations in the Deep Creek Lake area, Lakeside features more than 90 flavors of ice cream and sherbet made on the premises. Seasonal fruit flavors use local fruit. The Lakeside Creamery Café offers an array of coffee and specialty drinks. (Lakeside ice cream can also be purchased at the Mountain City Coffeehouse & Creamery in Frostburg.
Misty Meadows Farm Creamery in Smithsburg (Washington County) This family-owned business features a creamery on the farm with weekly activities. Stop in for cone or to see to the cows.
Nutter’s Ice Cream Shop in Sharpsburg (Washington County) Nutter’s is an old-fashioned ice cream shop, family-owned and operated since 1996. Nutter’s serves 32 flavors of ice cream, along with other items such as a peach pound-cake sundae. The shop is located off the Sharpsburg town square and near both Antietam National Battlefield and the C&O Canal Towpath.
Queen City Creamery and Deli in Cumberland (Allegany County) Located in a renovated building that features a re-created 1940s soda fountain, Queen City offers frozen custard that is made daily and comes in three flavors.
For information, go to visitmaryland.org/article/ice-cream-lovers-guide-to-maryland.
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