With National Ice Cream Month winding down quickly—and summer temps creeping up almost as fast—we wanted to mention one more hidden destination that recently celebrated a record-breaking crowd on Ice Cream Day (always the third Thursday in July). As part of the 103-acre Milky Way Farm in bucolic Chester Springs, the Chester Springs Creamery has been dipping scoops of Bessie’s Black Raspberry, Peggy’s Peachy Keen, Vicki’s Vanilla Fudge Ripple and Dixie’s Coconut Almond Delight since opening in 2001.
Carolyn Matthews Eaglehouse, who runs the Creamery with husband Lou, explains that the farm has been in the Matthews family for over 100 years. The cows are important here. Currently, 40 bovine ladies produce the milk (via robotic milking) that is the base of the ice cream.
“When we first opened, my husband and I had a discussion about naming the flavors after the cows,” she explains. “I thought it sounded hokey and he didn’t. Funny how it’s caught on as to why people remember us as an ice cream destination. To this day he jokes with me whenever the concept is mentioned. Turns out it’s a great connection for the Creamery.”
According to Carolyn, it can take as little as four days to get the goods from “cow to cone” once flavor recipes are decided upon and tweaked and the processing is completed (homogenization is done offsite). There are currently 50 flavors off and on with about 30 active ones being licked. Refreshing fruit sorbets are also offered for those on dairy-restricted diets.
Much more than a scoop of ice cream, though, Milky Way Farm is also invested in “agri-education,” educating the community on the benefits of agriculture. Over 5,000 schoolchildren in the five-county area attend tours and summer farming camps every year.
“We’re now a generation removed from knowing about farming,’ explains Carolyn. “It used to be that people had known a friend or a family that was involved in farming. Now they know someone who knows someone who they ‘think’ was a farmer. We’re trying to get that ‘hands-on’ feel back to the folks of this area through education.”
Tours are popular at the farm. Since 1986, private and educational tours have been given to tourists, locals and students, who get the opportunity to explore farm animals, agricultural products, farm life, plant growing cycles, nutrition and milking technology. The tours also emphasize close interaction with the farm animals (feeding time), farm crops and machinery, while promoting an understanding of farming as a way of life.
Milky Way Farm also operates as a seasonal co-operative and enjoys a farm-to-table relationship with Amani’s BYOB in Downingtown. The Creamery’s ice cream can be found at Pete’s Produce in Westtown as well.
“We’re always excited, too, as the fall harvest season comes into view,” added Carolyn. “We grow several acres of pumpkins (25,000 pumpkins in a favorable weather year), and visitors to the farm can enjoy a hayride to pick pumpkins in the patch right off the vine or select them in the sales area. We also grow and sell other fall harvest products, such as gourds, Indian corn, crook-neck pumpkin, squash, corn stalk bundles, miniature pumpkins and many fall decorative items.”
The post and beam structure of the Creamery is 2,800 square feet and integrates nicely with the farm. (It’s also available to rent year round.) Stones used in its construction were hand-picked from the fields of the farm. The grounds are spectacular, with the large windows and wraparound porch offering the finest views of paths and bridges throughout the property. The atmosphere is relaxing, authentic and simplistically therapeutic.
The Creamery is currently open with summer hours from 1–9 p.m. daily except Mondays. Pints and quarts of favorite flavors are available to grab and go (as is fresh farm produce on the porch). Don’t forget to ask about the MoooBucks frequent visitor program, and remember that no pets are permitted on the farms grounds (except service dogs).
Chester Springs Creamery is located at 521 Uwchlan Ave. in Chester Springs; phone: (610) 363-8500.
- Interior photo & cow collage: Milky Way Farm
- Remaining photos: Ed Williams
