Jeff Laufenberg
Heading into my visit to Mount Rushmore, ice cream wasn’t exactly at the top of my mind but I had heard about the famous Thomas Jefferson Vanilla and knew I had to try it.
During our afternoon visit, I ordered one scoop of Thomas Jefferson Vanilla and one scoop of chocolate. The vanilla flavor truly surprised me, it had a richness and depth that really stood out. I’m usually not a big fan of vanilla, but this one was exceptional. The chocolate was also very good and paired well with it.
We returned the following evening for the nighttime program, and I couldn’t resist going back for more. That time, I had one scoop of Thomas Jefferson Vanilla and one scoop of strawberry, both were excellent.
The portions were generous, and while prices are a bit higher, it’s understandable given the location.
Tip: If you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive souvenir, you can purchase the recipe for Thomas Jefferson Vanilla ice cream for just $1.
Visiting Mount Rushmore is an experience in itself, but enjoying some ice cream while taking in the views definitely made it even sweeter.
… moreliana na
Prices here are bit high for ice cream. Its $9 for 2 vanilla scoops in a cone and $8 for 1 scoop in a cone, so you are essentially paying a $1 premium for one more scoop. Regardless, the ice cream was still good and it was a fun quirky experience trying the original Thomas Jefferson recipe!
… moreL. Kris
We had to try the Thomas Jefferson ice cream and it was absolutely delicious! Now every time we visit Mt. Rushmore we have to get ice cream. We have tried almost every flavor and they are all delicious! (Sorry, I took the pictures part way through eating)
… moreDavid-Yosef Cedor
The ice cream served here is “the icing on the cake” to crown a pilgrimage to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Their Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice cream is absolutely delicious! Even Teddy Roosevelt would exclaim “Bully!” to express his complete satisfaction with both the ice cream’s fabulous flavor and its creamy texture. The servers here are really kind, too, and are very much appreciated. Bravo!
… moreTina Gnadenlos
I waited in line for 15 minutes because only one employee was actually working, while the others were chatting and looking at the spoons. The staff appeared unfriendly and stressed. There was very little selection, the waffles were dry and bland and the ice cream was overpriced and disappointing in taste. The only positive aspect was the portion size.
… moreNilisha Rathour
Yummy ice cream! I tried the choco-mint flavor and it was fantastic. The line was pretty long, but totally worth it—seems like a must-try when visiting Mt. Rushmore!
… moreAJ Ruiz
A decent ice cream shop located in the middle of Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. Overall, the ice cream is outstanding. Although a dollar more, the TJ vanilla (which is suppose to be based on the recipe Thomas Jefferson first recorded), was delicious. However, as this is at a tourist attraction, expect tourist prices. But for what you pay, you do get decent portions.
… moreWholesome Weirdos
Do you know what one tends to find on their pursuit of happiness? Ice cream! Come visit Mt. Rushmore, a (literal) pinnacle of patriotism and enjoy some legit Thomas Jefferson Vanilla Ice Cream. Protip: They take cards, have other flavors and sell a Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream recipe card for a buck!
… moreC B
Great ice cream it seems they hire a lot of English not first language people. Which is normally fine but when I went was huge issue I didn’t understand what I paid for and the customer before had to go back to try and get a refund on ice cream? Cause was double charged.
… moreJason Keller
During my recent trip up to Mount Rushmore, I got the opportunity to have this great Ice Cream. When it comes to this Ice Cream Place, it is oriented in the same building as the Carver Cafe and tastes the greatest.
When it comes to the Ice Cream varieties that they generally offer, they offer a diversity of distinct flavors that you would not find either way in other prominent attractions that are known to welcome millions a year. I had the Thomas Jefferson Vanilla and the Strawberry Cheesecake, which were both immaculate and a great incorporation of American History in Food and the modern establishment of the Frozen Dairy Dessert following the origins in France during the late 18th century when Jefferson brought the recipe of French Vanilla to the United States during his time as the French Ambassador.
Make sure to come here whenever you are coming to Mount Rushmore at nighttime. And for a great price of $7.50, you could get a large, two-scoop portion for the cost of what one would be at Cold Stone.
… more