Even in the brutal cold of winter we still love ice cream in Minnesota. There are some ice cream shops that close for the season but most stay open year-round. What can we say, we're truly hardy Minnesotans who want their ice cream!

people holding ice cream cones
Mark Cruz, Unsplash
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Another state that loves ice cream any time of year? Iowa. What's even funnier and ironic is that Iowa is home to the Ice Cream Capital of the World. That's right, not the country, the world.

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Iowa is Home to the Ice Cream Capital of the World

This town isn't Des Moines, it's a small town in the western part of the state with a population of a little less than 11,000. The closest large town is Sioux Falls, SD and it's a little less than an hour and a half away.

You're probably wondering how in the world a little town like that ended up on the map as the Ice Cream Capital of the World. I was wondering the same thing!

ice cream cones
Courtney Cook, Unsplash
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The town is called Le Mars, Iowa and they have officially been the Ice Cream Capital of the World since 1994 but unofficially since 1913.

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The town's website says that "more ice cream is produced in Le Mars, Iowa, by a single company than in any other city in the world!"

Who is producing all of this ice cream? None other than the parent company of Blue Bunny, Wells Enterprises Inc.

Why Le Mars, Iowa is the Ice Cream Capital of the World

I never would have guessed that Blue Bunny ice cream came from small-town Iowa! But that's exactly why Le Mars is considered the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Wells' founder, Fred H. Wells, Jr., started producing ice cream in Le Mars in 1913 and the rest is history.

outside the wells visitor center and ice cream parlor in le mars, iowa
Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor, Facebook
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Today, there's a Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor where you can have "one-of-a-kind ice cream treats and a heaping spoonful of fun in the interactive exhibits".

outside the wells visitor center and ice cream parlor in le mars, iowa
Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor, Facebook
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Also, every June the town hosts Ice Cream Days. Sounds like a great excuse for a fun trip.

ice cream days parade in le mars iowa
Le Mars, Iowa via Facebook, Multivance Media
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LOOK: Highest-rated free things to do in Iowa, according to Tripadvisor

Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated free things to do in Iowa from Tripadvisor.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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