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Ice cream barn offers tastiest treats along lake
For a hungry tourist or weary traveller just looking for a quick rest or snack, there is no better place to stop along Highway 2 than Antje's Ice Cream Barn and Kaffeegarten.
The business opened four years ago and has found itself a niche in an area where there hadn't been one before. The reason is simple: usually long trips on the highway are often interspersed with rest stops which consist of a visit to a local gas station or truck stop.
But one look at Antje's Kaffeegarten tells you this is a special place. The ice cream barn is actually a small building resembling a cottage. There is a veranda on one side which overlooks a pond. It is quaint, friendly and is only surpassed by the tasty treats awaiting the hungry traveller inside.
The shop is owned by Antje Wolff and is located on her and her husband's Helmut's acreage along Highway 2. It's worth visiting for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the personal touches that Antje has given it. The Wolff's along with their eldest daughter Tatjana, designed, constructed and landscaped the business themselves. The restaurant is quaint and clean. There are knick knacks everywhere and is tastefully decorated in dark, warm hues. There are also a number of patio tables set up outside and plenty of flower beds to admire.
Anyone who's travelled abroad will notice that it has a certain European feel.
"We came from Germany," says Wolff. "In Europe there's all these little places for ice cream and coffee. We could see that there was a need for something like this here.
"The only thing missing here that we would have had in Germany is a couple of swans in a pond," added Helmut.
Business is good for the Woffs. On a good day, when the sun is out and there are travelers on the highway, Wolff has to bring in another person to help. She wants to maintain it as a small operation.
"It's not just a hobby but it's certainly not just a job either," she says. "I want to keep the personal contact as part of it. That's so important to customers."
Since opening, Wolff has attracted a number of customers. These customers, she says, appreciate knowing that they are always welcome and she will make time for them if she can.
"One thing I don't like about when it is busy is that I don't have as much time to spend with them as I would like to, but I try."
Those who do stop are able to relax in pleasant surroundings, walk around the pond, stretch out and enjoy some great refreshments.
Wolff serves 12 flavors of ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, specialty coffees, and even offers light lunches. Her specialty though, is vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
"It's very popular with everyone."
Antje's Ice Cream Barn and Kaffeegarten is open during the summer months. Phone 780-355-3768 for store hours.
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