Canteen Creemee Company
4.6(622)google
Local LifeFamilyQuirky
Overview
Situated in the picturesque mountain valley of Waitsfield, the Canteen Creemee Company is a legendary culinary destination that has completely redefined Vermont's signature dairy dessert, the creemee. Moving away from traditional soft-serve ice cream, this gourmet shop utilizes premium local maple syrup and high-fat organic dairy to craft impossibly rich and velvety creations. Famous for its artistic, over-the-top presentations, visitors queue up to sample treats like the 'Bad Larry,' a maple creemee covered in pure maple crystals, maple cotton candy, and artisanal local toppings that offer a decadent, sensory-rich taste of modern Vermont.
Practical Info
Mon11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sat11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sun11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration30-45 minutes
Best TimeStrictly seasonal, operating its cult-favorite gourmet soft-serve doors from late April through mid-October. The ultimate summer window is between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM on a hot July or August afternoon; this hits the sweet spot to indulge in their legendary, over-the-top 'Maple Creemee' layered with local maple cotton candy and crystals.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned inside the Mad River Green shopping plaza at 5123 Main St in downtown Waitsfield. Driving a car is highly convenient: cruise directly along the iconic VT-100 scenic byway straight into the town center; the trendy retail plaza features an enormous, well-organized complimentary shared public surface lot out front.
Travel Tips
- Located within a busy shopping plaza, parking fills rapidly; do not park in designated medical clinic or post office stalls, or you will be towed.
- The signature oversized 'Bad Larry' creemee involves intricate assembly; expect queues exceeding 40 minutes during peak foliage and summer weekends.
- Operating on a strict seasonal schedule, the shop limits winter hours and may close unexpectedly during severe blizzards; check their live social media before driving.
Reviews
Positive
- As Vermont's massively famous viral ice cream shop, they twist traditional maple creemees into highly creative, gorgeous shapes with solid portions that live up to the hype.
- The ice cream and fried chicken flavors offer immense fun, utilizing fresh local ingredients; the young staff maintain highly efficient, orderly, and sunny hospitality.
- The shop features dedicated outdoor wooden picnic benches and a clean trash station; it is easy to find, right off Waitsfield's main highway with convenient parking.
- Though a viral hotspot with heavy lines, they use an efficient electronic pager system; onsite crowd management is highly organized, and basic flavors offer top value.
Heads up
- During prime weekend afternoons in summer and fall, tourist density hits saturation; the small front clearing fills with people, often causing wait times over half an hour.
- Because it focuses on a roadside take-out model, there is no large air-conditioned indoor dining room; eating outside under the blazing summer sun tests physical stamina.
- The exclusive creative creemee sundaes topped with cotton candy and maple cookies are pricy, carrying viral premiums for high-end desserts with subjective value.
- The on-site public restrooms are very limited (just a single basic stall) and lack international multilingual guidance, making peak-hour use inconvenient for foreign tourists.