Somewhere in a small Indiana college town sits a diner with a menu so long it turns picking a treat into a friendly challenge. One hundred shakes.
One hundred sundaes. A strawberry shortcake that people drive more than an hour to reach, then take home in a box big enough to feed the whole family.
Lines slip out the door on busy afternoons, yet the counter keeps moving and the orders keep flying. This is the kind of place that has quietly become a tradition for families, students, and road trippers hunting for something worth the detour.
Stick around and you will learn where to find it, what makes the flavor list so wild, why the parking lot fills before the doors even open, and how to plan a visit that skips the guesswork.
Where To Find This Flavor-Packed Diner
Grant County, Indiana holds a lot of quiet cornfields, and tucked among them is a diner that draws people from far beyond the county line. The address to plug into your map is 979 S Main St, Upland, IN 46989, United States.
Upland is a small town, so the drive in feels calm right up until you reach the parking lot. That lot tends to fill fast, sometimes 15 minutes before the doors open.
The setup runs like a classic American ice cream parlor mixed with a full diner. You order at a counter, wait for your name, and settle into a booth or a table.
What sets the tone right away is the size of the operation. With 100 shake flavors and 100 sundae flavors on the board, the choices stretch far past what a normal menu offers.
Parking itself is easy to navigate once you arrive, even when the place is packed. Regulars say the trip is worth planning around, and the steady flow of cars in and out backs that up.
Landing here means you have found one of Upland’s true anchors, a spot that has kept its place in the community for years.
A Cornerstone Of The Upland Community
Long before food blogs and map pins, this diner was already the after-church stop where friends gathered on Sunday nights. Families who moved away decades ago still make a point of returning when they roll back through town.
That kind of loyalty says a lot. People who left in the late 1990s come back for Mother’s Day meals and treats, treating the visit like a reunion with an old friend.
The restaurant has held its ground as a cherished institution in Upland. It carries the feel of a classic American ice cream parlor while keeping a full diner running alongside it.
Menus and offerings have shifted over the years, as any long-running kitchen tends to change. Even so, the core reasons people love it have stayed steady.
Being near two colleges keeps fresh faces coming through the door season after season. Students, alumni, and townsfolk all fold into the same crowd.
A place earns cornerstone status by showing up for its people year after year, and this one has done exactly that for generations of Grant County regulars.
One Hundred Shakes And One Hundred Sundaes
Choosing a treat here is less a decision and more an adventure. The board lists 100 shake flavors and 100 sundae flavors, a lineup so deep that one visit barely scratches the surface.
That variety is the whole reason the buzz started. Guests describe the sheer number of options as mind-blowing, with a flavor profile to match just about any craving.
Some fans joke about a 100 club, imagining what it would take to sample every single option on the list. One person even figured they would have to come back 99 more times to try each shake.
Hand-dipped choices add another layer to the fun. Butter pecan ice cream with pecans and butterscotch topping shows the kind of detail packed into the sundae menu.
Sizes lean generous, so a single dessert can feed a family. People warn each other about the portions before they order.
Looking up the menu online ahead of time is a smart move. With this many flavors, a little homework turns a long wait at the counter into a quick, confident order.
The Strawberry Shortcake People Drive Miles For
Some desserts inspire road trips, and this one tops the list. People who live over an hour away take drives just to grab the strawberry shortcake, then head home satisfied.
The dessert leans huge, packed with so many strawberries that families struggle to finish it. Folks even carry boxes of it back to places like Fort Wayne to enjoy later.
What makes it stand out is the base. The shortcake is not spongecake, and fans praise both the flavor and the texture as excellent.
Summer strawberry season is the sweet spot. Regulars insist the shortcake sundae is a must during those warm months.
Insider tips get passed around too. Asking for extra juice is a common request among those who know the dessert best.
With 313 mentions floating around, this is easily the item that made the place famous. Some people describe dreaming about it, which is quite a review for a plate of cake and berries.
If you make only one order here, this is the one that keeps drawing people back.
Beyond The Sweets, A Full Diner Menu
Treats may steal the spotlight, but the kitchen turns out plenty of hearty fare too. The breaded tenderloin earns steady praise, and the onion rings get called out again and again.
Chicken sandwiches are a quiet favorite. The Big Ol’ Chicken Sandwich gets described as a breaded tenderloin made with chicken, and the harvest and ranch versions land well too.
Cheddar tots and tater tots hold their own on the sides. Fans of the tots keep coming back for them specifically.
Lighter options exist for those who want them. Salads run large and fresh, and a fruit bowl gives a break from the fried stuff.
Portions here stay big across the board. People describe huge servings that come at reasonable prices, with some calling it cheaper than fast food and better too.
A few dishes come with fine print worth knowing. The nachos come in three styles, so checking which one you want avoids surprises.
The takeaway is simple. You can build a full, filling meal here before you ever reach the ice cream counter.
Following The Garfield Trail To The Front Door
Grant County has a quirky claim to fame, and this diner sits right on the map for it. A statue of Garfield stands at the edge of the parking lot for anyone tracing the Garfield Trail.
The famous cartoon cat has deep roots in this part of Indiana, and the trail links spots that celebrate that connection. Spotting the statue turns a simple treat stop into a small scavenger hunt.
Inside, the character continues in a different way. The back room shows off all types of older US flags along the walls, giving the space a bit of collected history.
Little touches like these make the visit feel layered. You come for a shake and leave having ticked off a roadside landmark.
Families following the trail often build a stop here into the day. The kid-friendly setup pairs naturally with the cartoon-cat photo op outside.
Details like a statue in the lot and flags on the wall give the place personality beyond the menu. They are the kind of extras that stick in your memory long after the ice cream is gone.
A Family-Friendly Spot Near Two Colleges
Location does a lot of heavy lifting for this diner’s steady crowds. It sits near both Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan University, keeping students and families streaming through the door.
The atmosphere leans very kid-friendly, which pulls families in from far and wide. Parents mention it as an easy choice for a casual outing with the whole crew.
One practical heads-up matters for the youngest guests. Highchairs are not available, so families with babies may want to plan around that.
Busy energy comes with the territory. The dining room can get noisy simply because so many people pack into one space at once.
That buzz is part of the appeal for many. A full room signals a place doing something right, and the mix of college and family crowds keeps the vibe lively.
The back dining area gives a bit more room to spread out. It is also where the flag display adds some character to the walls.
For groups looking for a laid-back, affordable meal with something for every age, this diner checks the boxes without any fuss.
Hours, Prices, And Beating The Long Lines
Planning smart makes all the difference at a place this popular. The kitchen serves Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday from 2 PM to 10 PM.
Crowds are the trade-off for the fame. The parking lot often fills 15 minutes before opening, and a 30-minute wait is typical during peak hours.
Lines can stretch out the door, though they usually move at a decent clip. Because food is made fresh, busy stretches can add to the wait.
One tip clears up early confusion. The ice cream order line is separate from the food order line, so knowing which one you need saves time.
Value keeps people from minding the wait too much. Prices run reasonable, with huge portions that many describe as cheaper than fast food.
Timing your visit helps a lot. Slower windows, like closer to closing, can mean quicker service even when the room stays busy.
A little patience pays off here. The line is part of the experience, and it tends to reward those who stick it out.
Why This Upland Icon Is Worth The Trip
Few small-town diners earn the kind of devotion this one has built. Holding a 4.6-star average across more than 3,800 pieces of feedback is no small feat for a spot in a town this size.
The pull comes from a rare combo. Endless flavors, generous portions, and fair prices add up to a place people happily drive hours to reach.
Regulars talk about it in loyal terms, calling it a favorite they return to again and again. That kind of repeat traffic keeps the parking lot full year-round.
Busy days do come with hiccups. Long waits and the occasional mix-up at the counter show up, especially with newer staff learning the ropes.
Even so, the good far outweighs the bumps for most guests. The strawberry shortcake alone keeps people coming back, and the 100-flavor board keeps the visits interesting.
Setting aside a little patience turns a busy afternoon into a treat worth remembering. Between the Garfield statue, the flag-lined back room, and that towering shortcake, a stop in Upland gives you plenty to enjoy and even more to plan a return around.
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