After a one-year hiatus, the Dairy Barn is open again

LAUREL — I scream, you scream, we all scream for----ice cream!

In 1953, the first ice cream cone was served out of the Frosti Creme Drive-In, a tiny building along Nebraska State Highway 20.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Monk built and opened the business with hopes of serving the community of Laurel throughout the warm months. Now, 67 years later, the same building is home to The Dairy Barn.

The current owners, Brad and Shelly Rath, have owned and operated the business for over a decade. This year their daughter, Amy Rohde, is splitting the role of Operations Manager with her mother.

“It has been a joy to share this endeavor with my parents. Even though it is a huge task, we enjoy bringing something sweet to the community every summer,” she said.

This year, the ice cream tastes a bit sweeter for folks in the area. After running into staffing shortages, Raths had to make the tough call not to open up last summer.

Not having the Dairy Barn open left a huge void in the community, said Michelle Jacot.

“We missed being able to take our grandkids down for an afternoon treat. It is wonderful that they have reopened this summer, especially in light of everything else going on,” she said. “It’s been a highlight of so many summers, I know this year will be the same.”

The menu at the Dairy Barn has something for everyone.

From baby cones to burgers fit for a king, you will find something to keep you coming back for more.

“The Barn Burger which is loaded with Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and BBQ sauce has become a crowd favorite,” Rhode said. “Of course cheeseballs and fries are always in high demand.”

They also run special flavors of ice cream on certain days. Rhode admitted that Strawberry Thursdays and Blackberry Fridays are always a hit alongside shakes and malts.

Rohde is optimistic about the future of The Dairy Barn and hopes to keep it open longer this year.

“We are planning to stay open at least until school goes back in session, but I would love to stay open later in the fall. It is just a matter of having help and coverage. Our team of employees is great, but many of them return to school and extracurricular commitments once fall comes.”

The Dairy Barn has been operating their normal daily hours since June 15. Sundays they are open from 3-8:30 p.m, Monday through Saturday they are open from 11-8:30 p.m.