Go for a Dip at the Turkey Hill Experience

The rain has stopped and the summer like weather has ushered in a very important season in Lancaster County Pennsylvania: Ice Cream season. Residents and tourists who have a love for the cool creaminess of Turkey Hill brand ice cream will be excited to visit the brand-new Turkey Hill Experience located in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

As Turkey Hill has become a common brand name known from coast-to-coast there has been increasing interest in plant tours at Turkey Hill 's manufacturing facility in Conestoga, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the plant was not designed with the public in mind, so for the past several years Quintin Frey, President of Turkey Hill, and his staff have been trying to find a solution for Turkey Hill lovers to experience first hand how their products are made.

The solution was an abandoned warehouse that had sat empty for 25 years with no roof, floors or interior walls. The warehouse is located directly off of the Route 441/Columbia Exit on Route 30 and has been renovated to house the Turkey Hill Experience's ice cream and tea tour, as well as their cafe and creamery. The site was a perfect fit, according to Frey, because Columbia is where his great-grandfather Amor Frey first delivered milk door to door.

The Turkey Hill Experience is a year-round stop for families hoping to learn more about the ice cream making process. When you first enter the doors, visitors can tour a free showcase of the extensive history of the Susquehanna region and the history of the Frey family. Through the next set of doors guests will experience interactive games, taste tests, and even an opportunity to create your own ice cream flavor by selecting ingredients, designing the packaging and even making your own commercial! There is a one time fee to see all the exhibits.

Both children and adults can learn about bacteria in milk, the mixing and creation process of ice cream, the story behind the famous Turkey Hill teas and tons of history on the company and the local area. You will finish your tour in their large cafe and creamery which features sandwiches, soups, their regularly made ice cream flavors and some flavors of ice cream exclusively made for the guests including gelato. There is also a large gift shop where you can purchase Turkey Hill memorabilia.

Summer hours will be extensive, and anyone is welcome to come eat at the Cafe & Creamery without going through the tour. The grand opening for the Turkey Hill Experience is Saturday, June 4, 2011.