Seven-year-old Arizona Semones tasted a bubble-gum-flavored ice cream cone Friday afternoon.
"It tastes good and it's refreshing," she said. The animated Ketchum girl savored the sweet, frozen delight with her friends during the opening of Leroy's Ice Cream, Ketchum's new ice cream stand.
Leroy's Ice Cream opened June 2 on the grassy lot next to Irving's hot dog stand on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. The opening coincided with the last day of classes at Blaine County schools. Eager ice cream lovers of all ages formed a line across the grass knoll to wait their turn for frozen treats.
But the real treat will be shared throughout Blaine County.
Leroy's Ice Cream is a nonprofit corporation whose activities generate profit for kids. Kids like Arizona will benefit because all profits from the venture will be donated to the Blaine County School District, The Community School, the Pioneer Montessori School and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.
The community-minded corporation is fast becoming a central gathering spot for Wood River Valley residents. Situated on a grassy lawn with spectacular views of Bald Mountain, the location welcomes children and adults to enjoy an assortment of ice cream flavors, milk shakes, banana splits and sundaes. The store is open 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. seven days a week.
"It's a spot for everybody," said Maeme Rasberry, co-manager of Leroy's. Rasberry and her sister Callie manage the business. The sisters own Rasberry's Catering and have been fixtures in Ketchum since 1999.
"This is one aspect of the food industry we are just tapping into," Callie said.
The sisters found an all-natural ice cream variety to serve at the stand. The Rasberrys avoided highly processed foods, opting for a healthier palate of options. Evidenced by the opening-day crowd, Leroy's Ice Cream is on its way to becoming a Ketchum culinary and community tradition.
"We hope it will be the thing we look forward to every summer," Callie said.
The Western storefront is accented with cotton-candy pink and aqua blue paint colors, which match the colorful kid-sized picnic tables scattered across the lawn. Larger picnic tables, teak benches and a wooden bench swing make for an intimate summer spot to enjoy a warm summer evening. The operators were fortunate that the owner of the property allowed access to the property.
"Hopefully, it will grow to be part of the Ketchum landscape," Callie said.
The concept for an outdoor location, with room for kids to play and exceptional ice cream flavors, came from a similar store in Hood River, Ore. Oregon-based Mike's Ice Cream is a fixture in its town. Leroy's builds upon Mike's experience and benefits Blaine County kids.
So, who is Leroy? The business is named for Leroy Kingland, a part-time Wood River Valley resident and former Seattle-based ski-rep. Kingland skis approximately a hundred days a year, shares a contagious smile and boasts an incredible memory of those he meets.
"He is the most wonderful man you have ever met. He is a friend and mentor to thousands of people," said Jake Peters, who with his wife, Trina Peters, created Leroy's Ice Cream. Kingland's kindred spirit offers a friendly smile from a framed picture hanging in the stand. Hopefully, the ice cream, and its profits, will bring similar joy to children throughout the valley.
A happy camper, Lola Street endorses LeRoy's Ice Cream. Proceeds from the new ice cream businesses in Ketchum benefit school children throughout Blaine County. Photo by Chris Pilaro
