Some places draw a crowd before the doors even open, and one small spot in central Indiana does exactly that. Cars start filling the lot a good fifteen minutes early, and the line often stretches right out the door on a warm afternoon.
What pulls people in from an hour away, sometimes farther, is a menu built around 100 flavors of shakes and 100 flavors of sundaes, plus a strawberry shortcake that has quietly become the stuff of road-trip legend. This is a family tradition for many households in Grant County, a treat parlor that also happens to serve solid, affordable food.
Stick around and you will learn where it sits, what makes the wait worth it, and how to time your visit so the crowd works in your favor.
A Cozy Corner in Upland Where the Line Never Quits
Right on the edge of a college town, this little diner has turned scooping ice cream into a local ritual. You will find Ivanhoes at 979 S Main St in Upland, Indiana, a modest building that punches far above its size.
The address sits in Grant County, close to two campuses, which keeps the energy high most days of the week. It carries a 4.6-star reputation across more than 3,800 pieces of feedback, a number that tells you plenty about how this place is regarded.
Prices land in the friendly ten to twenty dollar range, which makes it an easy stop for families and students alike. Regulars mention that the parking lot often fills before the doors even open, so the crowd is baked into the experience.
Small footprint, big following. That contrast is the first thing that makes this spot memorable.
The 100-Flavor List That Started All the Buzz
One hundred shakes. One hundred sundaes.
That single fact is what put this place on the map for so many people.
The variety is the whole point here, and folks say you could visit a hundred times and still have something new to order. That idea has even inspired a friendly goal among fans who joke about joining a 100 club by working through the entire list.
Because the menu runs so deep, deciding what to get becomes half the fun. Many people plan return trips around it, treating each visit like a small mission to check off another flavor.
Shakes here get high marks for thickness, so thick that a spoon often does more work than a straw. With that many choices and that kind of consistency, boredom simply is not on the menu.
The Strawberry Shortcake People Drive Hours For
Ask around Grant County and one dessert comes up again and again. The strawberry shortcake at this Upland stand has earned near-mythic status, and it is easy to see why once you understand the devotion behind it.
People openly admit to taking road trips just for it, some driving over an hour each way. One fan described carrying it all the way home to Fort Wayne, noting how huge it was and how many strawberries came piled on top.
Regulars point out that the shortcake is not spongecake, and they praise both the flavor and the texture. A common tip floats around too, which is to ask for extra juice.
In the summer months especially, this is treated as a must-order. When a single dessert can turn casual guests into loyal returnees, you know it has become the heart of the whole operation.
More Than Ice Cream: The Diner Side of the Counter
Sweet treats grab the headlines, but the savory side holds its own here. Beyond the sundaes, this is a full American diner with a lineup that keeps people coming back for lunch and dinner.
Breaded tenderloin earns steady praise, and the tater tots have their own following, with cheddar tots singled out as a favorite by many. Onion rings show up often in the conversation too, usually paired with a thick shake.
Sandwich options run wide, from chicken salad on toasted wheat to ranch and harvest chicken varieties, all described as flavorful and satisfying. Portions tend to run large, and the value is a point people mention repeatedly.
Because everything is made fresh, food can take a little longer during rushes. Still, the payoff is a meal that feels honest and hearty rather than rushed.
Flags, Garfield, and a Roadside Landmark
Character shows up in the details here, and this spot has a few worth pointing out. The back room is decorated with all kinds of older US flags lining the walls, giving that part of the diner a distinct sense of history.
Outside, near the edge of the parking lot, stands a statue of Garfield the cartoon cat. It is part of the Garfield Trail, a regional route that celebrates the comic character created by an Indiana native.
Those little landmarks turn a quick ice cream run into a small scavenger stop. Families following the trail often make a point to snap a photo before heading inside.
Touches like these give the place a personality that chain spots simply cannot copy. They are the kind of quirks that stick in your memory long after the shake is gone.
A Family Tradition Near Two College Campuses
Generations of the same families keep circling back to this counter. For many households across Indiana, a stop here is simply part of how they mark summers and celebrations.
Its location near Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan University keeps the place buzzing with students, parents, and visitors year-round. That mix of college crowd and longtime locals gives the spot a lively, welcoming rhythm.
The atmosphere leans very kid-friendly, and families travel from far and wide to bring their children. Parents do note one practical detail worth planning around, which is the lack of highchairs.
Birthday sundaes, after-game treats, and weekend outings all seem to funnel through here. When a business becomes woven into so many family routines, it stops being just a restaurant and starts being a landmark.
Outdoor Seating and the Summertime Scene
When the weather warms up, the party spills outside. Picnic tables and benches sit near the building, giving people a spot to enjoy their food or ice cream in the open air.
Those outdoor seats become prime real estate in summer, especially when the indoor space fills with a steady hum of activity. Guests mention the outdoor seating as a nice release valve when the inside gets busy.
Warm months are when the strawberry shortcake reigns supreme, so the summer scene ties directly to the menu’s biggest star. The combination of a bench, a cone, and a slow afternoon is exactly what draws the crowds back.
Grabbing a table outside also lets you dodge some of the indoor noise. It is a small comfort that makes the whole visit feel a little more relaxed.
Big Portions, Small Prices
Value is a word that comes up constantly around this counter. Food here is described as cheap yet served in huge portions, a rare pairing that keeps budgets and appetites happy.
With a typical range of ten to twenty dollars, it lands as an approachable everyday stop rather than a splurge. Some guests even note it can run cheaper than fast food while tasting far better.
Reasonable prices show up in mention after mention, often tied to praise for both the sandwiches and the desserts. That balance of quality and affordability is a big reason locals keep it in heavy rotation.
This is the indulgent option, not the diet plan, though a few salads exist for those who want them. For anyone chasing a satisfying meal that treats their wallet gently, the math here works out nicely.
Timing the Crowds and Beating the Wait
Popularity has a price, and here it is measured in minutes. Long lines are a well-known feature, with the queue sometimes reaching out the door and a thirty-minute wait treated as typical.
The savvy move is to visit during the week, since weekends draw the heaviest crowds. Regulars specifically suggest weekdays if you want a smoother, quicker trip.
Worth knowing before you arrive: the ice cream order line is separate from the food order line, so watch for where each begins. Once you are in the system, the line generally moves at a decent clip even when it looks daunting.
Parking, by most accounts, is surprisingly easy to manage despite the busy lot. A little patience and good timing turn the famous wait into a minor footnote rather than a dealbreaker.
Hours, Getting There, and the Final Scoop
Planning a trip is refreshingly simple once you know the schedule. The doors open at 10 AM Monday through Saturday, with Sunday running from 2 PM to 10 PM.
Most nights close at 10 PM, though Friday and Saturday stretch later to 11 PM for those seeking a late treat. You can find it at 979 S Main St in Upland, an easy landmark thanks to that Garfield statue out front.
Weekdays reward early arrivals, and a mid-week visit sidesteps much of the crush. Even close to closing time the place can stay busy, yet service tends to keep pace.
What lingers most is the combination that started it all: a mountain of strawberry shortcake, a spoon-thick shake, and a hundred flavors waiting for your next return. For a small stand in a small town, that is a legacy worth lining up for.
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