Only In Minnesota: An Ice Cream Pontoon Patrols Poplar Lakes Every Summer, Serving Up Cold Treats

This is easily one of those things that screams "Minnesota", and I'm frankly surprised there isn't more of this kind of thing around the state.

You're probably familiar with the idea of an ice cream truck, cruising neighborhoods to sell ice cream and other frozen treats to kids and families (or just ice cream-loving adults...I'm not ashamed to be one of them).

I happened to hear about a Minnesota twist on this concept, an ice cream pontoon that's been cruising some popular Minnesota lakes over the last few summers and delivering frozen deliciousness to boaters and beachgoers.

I am 1,000% on board with this idea. No pun intended. Enjoying some ice cream while also enjoying a nice day on the lake? Heck. Yes.

READ MORE: 26 Of The Funniest, Quirkiest, and Weirdest Minnesota Lake Names

The name of the business is Ice Cream Island (also referred to by many as The Ice Cream Boat"), and it got its start on Maple Lake, moving to the popular Whitefish Chain of Lakes near Crosslake in the Brainerd Lakes Area, where it has been for the last few years.

The watercraft is a pontoon with some generator-powered freezers aboard to keep those frozen treats, well, frozen. Here's a little look from aboard:

Ice Cream Island set sail for the first time in the summer of 2021, bringing frozen treats to folks on the water in a few different places around Minnesota, now spending most of its time on the 14-lake Whitefish Chain of lakes that includes popular water recreation destinations like Cross Lake, Rush Lake, and Whitefish Lake.

They have loaded up and been on other lakes (and even some spots on land), but tend to spend a lot of their time on the Whitefish Chain these days. It's easy to understand why. I've spent plenty of summer days on these lakes, and I know quite well just how busy they can be on a nice summer day, with lots of locals and visitors to the area enjoying time on the water.

Ice cream Island has a lot of different frozen treats they've offered on its menu since opening, including pre-packaged ice cream cones, Bomb Pops, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, and more.

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Like a food truck or ice cream truck, knowing where they're going to be is important. The team regularly shares where they will pop up next via their Facebook page, updating fans so they can be on the lookout for this treat pontoon throughout the summer.