Whitebrook Dairy Bar: Wilmington’s Sweetest Summer Tradition
Serving ice cream, burgers, foot-long hot dogs and more.
Whitebrook Dairy Bar in Wilmington, NY, near Lake Placid. Photos courtesy Whitebrook Dairy Bar.
Suppose you find yourself cruising along Route 86 in Wilmington, NY, this summer, windows down, mountain air rushing in, and Whiteface Mountain looming large in your windshield. There’s a good chance you’ll catch a whiff of something other than pine and fresh Adirondack breeze—hot fudge sundaes, waffle cones, foot-long hot dogs and more.
That means you’re close to Whitebrook Dairy Bar, a beloved roadside gem that has been serving up smiles, sprinkles, and scoops for generations.
A taste of tradition.
Whitebrook Dairy Bar isn’t just another ice cream stand—it’s a local institution. Established decades ago, this family-friendly spot has become a rite of passage for anyone visiting or living in the northern Adirondacks.
A small vanilla soft-serve cone.
What sets it apart? For starters, the building itself, painted in bright, inviting colors, looks exactly how an ice cream stand should look: simple, cheerful, and just retro enough to remind you of childhood road trips.
The menu board hangs like a beacon, boasting all the classics: soft-serve, sundaes, floats, milkshakes, banana splits, and
But regulars will tell you the real magic is in the details.
What’s on the menu? Happiness.
If you’re a soft-serve purist, Whitebrook has you covered with delicious, creamy vanilla and chocolate twists, often crowned with a rainbow of toppings.
Prefer hard ice cream? Their rotating selection of flavors—many sourced from local dairies—features rich maple walnut, black raspberry, and cookie dough that taste even better after a day of hiking or biking Wilmington’s trails. These unique local flavors are a must-try for any ice cream enthusiast.
Strawberry banana split.
The sundaes are legendary—especially the hot fudge brownie sundae, which is piled so high it feels like a dare.
For something authentically Adirondack, many visitors opt for maple-flavored cones or a maple sundae, a sweet nod to the region’s sugaring heritage.
Milkshake lovers aren’t left out, either. Creamy, thick, and made the old-fashioned way, these shakes are so rich they’re practically a meal. Try the black-and-white (vanilla and chocolate combo) or ask for a peanut butter and banana concoction that tastes like summer vacation in a cup.
Whitebrook surprises visitors with a full snack-bar menu featuring burgers, hot dogs, fries, and onion rings—classic American drive-in fare that hits the spot after a morning on the slopes at Whiteface or a swim in the Ausable River.
Creating raving fans for decades.
The perfect dog with mustard, onion, and meat sauce.
The Whitebrook experience isn’t just about what’s on the menu—it’s about how it makes you feel. Locals and tourists alike rave about the old-fashioned charm and friendly staff, who greet customers with genuine Adirondack warmth.
Families line up in flip-flops and mountain bikers in dusty gear wait side by side, all united by one goal: the perfect cone.
The portions? Generous. In true small-town tradition, a “small” cone here is what other places might call a large one. Kids giggle when their cones arrive bigger than their faces, and no one complains about sharing a sundae. You'll leave feeling satisfied and well taken care of.
A popular post-adventure pit stop
Strategically located just minutes from Whiteface Mountain and popular hiking trails, Whitebrook Dairy Bar has become the unofficial finish line for countless outdoor adventures.
Whether you’re cooling off after a summer trek up Cobble Lookout, celebrating after a ride on Cloudsplitter Gondola, chilling out after scaling Whiteface Mountain’s Veterans’ Memorial Highway, or visiting stunning High Falls Gorge, Whitebrook is where you trade trail stories over double scoops. It's the perfect place to unwind and share your outdoor adventures with friends and family.
Let the Adirondacks be your “dining room.”
Don’t forget to take your picture with this dude.
While there’s no formal indoor seating, the best tables are the Adirondack Mountains themselves. Customers perch on picnic tables or car hoods, gazing at Whiteface while enjoying their cones.
Whitebrook Dairy Bar is also a top spot for cyclists and motorcyclists touring the scenic byways of the Adirondacks. On a sunny day, the parking lot looks like a parade of gear-laden cars, bikes, and RVs, all congregating for one reason: ice cream bliss.
Whitebrook’s opening day each spring is a mini-holiday for locals, who flock to celebrate the official start of “ice cream season” in Wilmington.
The sweetest kind of Adirondack memory.
The Adirondacks are full of fine dining, craft breweries, and farm-to-table restaurants, but sometimes the simplest pleasures are the most memorable. There’s something timeless about standing under the summer sun with melting soft-serve dripping down your wrist, laughing with friends, and feeling—for just a moment—like a kid again.
Whitebrook Dairy Bar delivers that feeling in every cone. It’s not just an ice cream stand; it’s an Adirondack tradition, a road trip reward, and a reminder that sometimes, happiness really does come with sprinkles.
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