Photos By Danielle Debley • Story By Jaqueline G. Goodwin, Ed. D & Danielle Debley
I scream. You scream. We all scream for the best mom and pop ice cream spots in the Harrisburg area! We’ve got no shortage of mom and pop ice cream spots in this region. So if you want your ice cream stop with a figurative cherry on top, check out these six cool spots.
Eckels Ice Cream Fountain
Step back in time as you enter through the front doors of Eckel’s Ice Cream Fountain, housed in the landmark Eckels Pharmacy in Mechanicsburg. First opened in 1879, now you can enjoy a banana split or a light lunch topped off with an old-fashioned ice cream soda or milk shake.
The original soda fountain and marble counter remain, as does the wooden tables and glass shelving. There is also a pharmacy museum filled with original pharmaceutical items. Movie buffs will delight in knowing that a scene for the 199 film “Girl Interrupted” was shot at Eckels Ice Cream Fountain. Owner Deb McCreary has created a “Girl, Interrupted” sundae, just like the one ordered in the movie by Angelina Jolie—vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, peanuts, rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry.
Eckels Ice Cream Fountain
36 East Main St.
Mechanicsburg, PA
717-458-8551
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday – 11:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.; Friday – 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 pm – 9 p.m.; Saturday – 12 noon – 9 p.m.; Sunday — CLOSED
eckelsicecream.com
Urban Churn
To those with a taste for more unique flavors, you must visit Urban Churn in Harrisburg. This recent, small shop makes its own ice cream with the most amazing flavor combos. The ice cream is frozen by the traditional combination of salt and ice, then hand poured into dairy containers, using local and natural ingredients. Visit them in their two locations.
Urban Churn
1004 North 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-884-9396
Hours: Monday & Tuesday – CLOSED; 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday; 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Friday & Saturday; 12 noon – 7 p.m., Sunday.
1233 N 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-884-3996
Hours: Sunday– Wednesday – CLOSED; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday & Friday; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday.
Hanna’s Ice Cream Shoppe
Hanna’s Ice Cream Shoppe may not have the longevity that other ice cream shops have, but if you walk in, you wouldn’t guess it. Founded in 2017 by Kevin and Deb Loncar, Hanna’s is designed with a retro 50’s vibe and offers soft serve and hand dipped ice cream, as well as shaved ice, milk shakes, floats, cones and sundaes, all available in lots of flavors like teaberry, cookie monster, and a new dairy-free flavor—vanilla. Hanna’s Peanut Butter Fudge Parfait is a sweet treat to die for, as is the Hanna Banana Split.
The shop’s decor is 50’s perfection, with a full jukebox and a soda fountain counter.
Hanna’s Ice Cream Shoppe
321 Bridge St.
Cumberland, PA
717-576-5477
Hours: Sunday– Thursday– 12 noon– 8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday– 12 noon-9 p.m.
hannasicecreamshoppe.com
Kristy’s Whistle Stop
Known for its huge portions of perfectly poised twists, make sure you stop on down to Kristy’s Whistle Stop in Enola. This 1950s themed ice cream shop features loads of flavors both soft serve and hand dipped. The shop has been standing for almost 60 years now, with the current owner, Kristy Magaro, owning it for the last 16. Looking for something more adventurous? Try one of their delicious sundaes, like the Cinnamon Roll Sundae!
Kristy’s Whistle Stop
600 South Enola Rd.
Enola, PA 17025
717-909-3881
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday; 12 noon– 10 p.m., Saturday; 12 noon– 9 p.m., Sunday; CLOSED Monday.
3B Ice Cream
Claude “Bugs” Weiss opened his first 3B Ice Cream, making his own ice cream, on Peters Mount Road in Dauphin in 1969. He eventually went on to open two more shops. Today, the four locations, including one on Derry Street, sell more than 45,000 gallons of ice cream every summer, and offer over 20 flavors produced by Turkey Hill and Galliker’s of Johnstown.
3B Ice Cream
4701 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
717-564-2271
2199 Colonial Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
717-545-6355
1430 Peters Mountain Road
Dauphin, PA 17018
717-921-2057
521 North Market Street
Duncannon, PA 17020
717-834-4528
Hours: 11a.m. – 10 p.m., weekdays; 11a.m. – 10:30 p.m., weekends
Rakestraw’s Ice Cream Company Store
Rakestraw’s Ice Cream has been preparing delectable treats in Mechanicsburg for more than a century. Founded by Roy E. Rakestraw in 1903, the shop boasts 32 premium ice cream flavors and six limited edition slow churned flavors. For many people, an ice cream cone at Rakestraw’s is a summer tradition.
Although Rakestraw died in 1950 and the business has passed through many hands, Rakestraw’s Ice Cream Shop continues to be a Mechanicsburg icon.
Rakestraw’s Ice Cream Company Store
313 South Market St.
Mechanicsburg, PA
717-691-5353
Hours: Monday– Sunday-12 noon to 8 p.m.
rakestrawsicecream.com