UTICA — The historic Ye Olde Mill has landed one of 20 spots on Ohio’s Ice Cream Trail this summer.
Established in 1817, Ye Olde Mill is home to over 150,000 visitors annually serving Velvet Ice Cream, first created in Utica.
Ye Olde Mill became the permanent home to Velvet Ice Cream in 1960, according to Velvet Ice Cream’s website. It also notes the mill soon became Ye Olde Mill, which housed a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor that opened in 1970.
A devastating fire destroyed the building in the late 1980s, but it was reopened a year later.
This 20-stop trail highlights local, family-owned, and nationally-recognized ice cream shops across the state, such as Graeter’s in Cincinnati and Toft’s in Sandusky — both of which have been in business for more than 100 years, according to Ohio’s Department of Development website.
For Ye Olde Mill to make it on the trail, the shop had to meet certain qualifications set by the trail organizers, said Ben Mitchell, Brand Manager at Velvet Ice Cream.
Mitchell added organizers typically include criteria such as the quality of the ice cream, the popularity of the establishment, its reputation, and its historical or cultural significance. Meeting these qualifications ensures the ice cream destination offers a unique and enjoyable experience to visitors.
Initially, Ye Olde Mill reps reached out to Ohio.org expressing interest in joining the trail, Mitchell said. After Ohio.org representatives were sent to Ye Olde Mill to review the ice cream shop.
“We received the exciting news that Velvet would be included in this year’s edition of the ice cream trail,” Mitchell said.
The site also notes that Ohio ranks 11th in the nation for milk production, has more than 1,400 dairy farms, and is home to hundreds of scoop shops — each with its own flavor of creativity.
Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville also made the list, which has been featured on Cooking Chanel’s “Ice Cream Nation.”
“It is an honor to be featured on the Ohio Ice Cream Trail for many reasons. Being on the trail means that Ye Olde Mill is recognized as one of the featured ice cream destinations in the state of Ohio,” Mitchell said.
“It signifies that Velvet offers exceptional ice cream and is considered a notable and worthwhile place for visitors to experience. By being part of the trail, Ye Olde Mill benefits from increased visibility, promotion, and potential customer traffic from ice cream enthusiasts who are following the trail.”
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So So Happy it is open and going again ! Nice to sit and eat ice cream cone and watch the ducks in the pond ! Welcome Back 😊
Velvet has some good ice cream. Drive a few more miles to Round Hill Dairy and Riverside Dairy in Mt. Vernon. These sister companies offer the ultimate in hand dipped goodness.
New flavors weekly and quality above all!! 🍨