I hope that every hometown has a local ice cream place. I don’t mean Ben & Jerry’s, Dairy Queen, Braum’s, or even Cincinnati favorite Graeter’s — all terrific places. I’m talking about that local joint where you stop after the game or recital, or just for a treat on a hot sticky night. You order a cone of soft-serve ice cream, maybe with sprinkles or with a hard “dip” on it. You hang out and chat with your neighbors, eating your ice cream before it melts down your arm. It’s typical and unremarkable, and also charming and lovely and a slice of Americana.
In my town — Mason, Ohio — it’s Tucker’s Whippy Dip. Cheerful teenagers man the two walk-up windows, or you can go through the drive-thru. After you get your ice cream you are welcome to sit on picnic tables under bright umbrellas.
The Whippy Dip is only open from mid-May to mid-September. But those four months are pretty magical. Want to see happiness? Hang out at Tucker’s on a summer evening.
Who’s at the Dip?
I have an “in” at Tucker’s, and she has filled me in about some of the folks hanging out at the Whippy Dip:
Little kids, of course.
You will see lots of very excited, very happy little children at the Dip. Most are literally jumping up and down with excitement. Insider information indicates that about 20% of the tiny customers immediately drop their ice cream on the ground or allow it to melt down their hand, resulting in instant and momentary tears. Instant, because of the extreme disappointment of losing that treat they’ve been begging for all day. Temporary, because those helpful teenagers manning the Whippy Dip windows will replace the sacrificed ice cream. Smiles return.
Teams. Lots of teams.
Baseball, soccer, softball, tennis, swim, cross-country. Winning or losing, it’s all sweeter with a stop at the Whippy Dip.
Public servants.
A Mason policeman stops each day and orders a grape slushy. I love to think of Mason’s finest protecting our streets and keeping us safe while fortified with grape slushy.
Connoisseurs.
Everyone has a favorite. Perhaps a frozen banana, dipped in chocolate, with heath bar sprinkles? Maybe a peanut butter cup gourmet sundae?
My favorite connoisseur is the gourmet who orders a soft-serve cone, with an extra cone. She places the second cone firmly on top of the ice cream (like a party hat), turns the entire treat horizontally, and eats the ice cream like corn on the cob, using the two cones as handles. Genius!
Young families.
A young couple recently came through and ordered a blue-dipped cone to take to their little girl:
The blue cone was their way to tell their daughter that the baby in Mommy’s tummy is going to be a little boy, her new little brother.
Old folks.
My “in” tells me of an sweet older man who comes most nights. He parks his car, shuffles to the window and orders two small chocolates. He does not eat them under the bright umbrellas, but carries them out to his car, where his (mobility-challenged) wife awaits. He hands her one of the ice creams. They eat their two small chocolates in the car together and then drive home.
So what’s so special about Tucker’s Whippy Dip?
I’m sure each successful hometown ice cream joint has its own “hook.” Maybe it is unusual ice cream flavors, or homemade cones. At the Whippy Dip, it is the character cones. You can request any character (human, animal, animated) and the artisans behind the counter will attempt to create it, at no extra charge. Mickey Mouse, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Uncle Sam, Fiona the Hippo, Superheroes — all have been seen at the Whippy Dip. Feeling like Santa?
Animals are very popular, with puppies topping the list:
And if characters are not your thing, the hard workers behind the Tucker’s counter will make any combination you can come up with (as long as they have the supplies):
Treat yourself. See your kids jump up and down with excitement. Celebrate the win, or take the sting out of a loss. Or make a tradition of giving your love some ice cream. You might just see the neighborhood there.
Tucker’s Whippy Dip is located at 127 West Main, Mason, Ohio.
For more of our favorite places to eat, please see:
- Pho goodness’ sake — let’s go out for some Vietnamese pho!
- Social OTR: Serving up fabulous food and new opportunities
- Eating Our Way Through Dallas One Visit at a Time!
- Celebration Park in Naples: Food Truckin’ Good Time
