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| Velvet Ice Cream's Ye Olde Mill in Utica, Ohio |
The history of Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream. Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream offer
fantastic glimpses into preservation and local history. Visiting the historic grist mill with its
operational water wheel offers a welcomed step back in time. The mill site dates back to 1917, although
fire destroyed the original mill structures twice during the 1800s. The current mill was built in the latter part
of the 19th century. It became a popular
social gathering spot with various owners and business pursuits over nearly one
hundred years. During that same time,
another local legacy was growing: Velvet
Ice Cream. The Dagar family began
making ice cream in the United States in 1914—growing to produce over 6 million
gallons of ice cream each year. The
union of Velvet Ice Cream and Ye Olde Mill emerged in 1960 when the Dagar
family purchased the mill and grounds. Today, the site boasts over 150,000
visitors annually.
Activities at Ye Olde Mill and Velvet Ice Cream’s factory
and headquarters. Ye Olde Mill is an
all-inclusive trip. With 25 acres of
space, visitors have lots of room to roam—and kids have lots of opportunities
for play and outdoor exploration.
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| Duck Feeding and Catch & Release Fishing Pond at Ye Olde Mill |
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| The Gift Shop and Interactive Ice Cream Exhibit at Ye Olde Mill |
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| Children's Playground at Ye Olde Mill |
The nature trail and nearby bike path are easily accessible
for both adults and children.
There is a gift shop, an interactive ice cream exhibit, and the site offers free Velvet Ice Cream factory tours—but visitors
hoping to tour should phone ahead to verify tour schedule and availability.
When the factory’s production lines are running, visitors
can watch container manufacturing from a viewing gallery.
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| Viewing Gallery at the Velvet Ice Cream Factory in Utica, Ohio |
Dining at Ye Olde Mill.
The mill offers the Wheel Room Restaurant on site—with fairly average
pricing for kid’s meals and adult entrees.
Visitors may also pack a picnic lunch and eat at one of three shelter
houses or on the grounds. Of course, a
visit to an ice cream factory’s corporate headquarters would not be complete
without a visit to Ye Olde Mill’s 19th Century style ice cream parlor.
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| The Wheel Room Restaurant at Velvet Ice Cream's Ye Olde Mill |
Getting there—and exploring the area near Ye Olde Mill. The mill is an easy drive from the Columbus
metro area—passing through a few smaller communities along the way. Unlike guides toward many rural attractions,
the signs leading to the mill are well maintained and visible. Nearby Johnstown provides many golfing
opportunities and is home to Woodhaven Farm, a unique facility offering cooking
classes and special events. Utica offers the Hufford House Museum as well as additional opportunities
for outdoor activities and fishing.
Lodging and Accommodations.
For non-day trip adventurers, lodging is available at the Indian BearLodge or a number of area hotels in Newark or Mt. Vernon. Ye Olde
Mill is also an easy drive to the Cherry Valley Lodge and CoCo Key Water Resort near Newark.
Price, Hours of Operation and Additional Details. Admission to Ye Olde Mill is free—as is parking,
and access to the fishing pond, playground, picnic areas, and the other
activities mentioned. Check the Velvet
Ice Cream website for the restaurant menu and prices, special events or activities which may require admission
or vendor charges. The website is also the
best place to check for the most current hours of operation.
For more information and resources:
Disclaimer: We were
not compensated for this post by the facility featured. We just thought our readers may be
interested. While the information and
details are accurate at the moment—things change—so please check the website
for the latest information relative to fees, available activities, and other
details prior to your own visit.
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