INSIDE SCOOP

3 Sunset Drive, Kerhonkson, NY 12446

Sleepinggianticecream.com • https://www.facebook.com/SleepingGiantIceCreamCo

Seasonal Hours: April through September • 2-9pm seven days a week during summer

I’ve passed this place several times, but alas, they were never open. The vibrant colors atop the hill were taunting me. I did a little research and found that Sleeping Giant opened their doors in the summer of 2021 – yet another business taking a leap of faith during an uncertain time. Robert Christian, creator of this fanciful establishment, and his family have a long business history in the Roundout Valley, having a hand in the ice cream business dating back to the early twentieth century. Their roots date back to 1659 and the Second Esopus War, a battle between the colonists from the Netherlands and Munsee Esopus tribe of the Lenape Indian nation. But what I found most interesting was the origin of the name Sleeping Giant.

What many think of when they hear this is ‘Let sleeping giants lay’, or don’t poke the bear, provoke one whose power or strength is not seen or understood until provoked. This is not that. The Shawangunk Mountains are an ancient ridge eroded from the Appalachians hundreds of millions of years ago. The particular vista seen from the Roundout Valley resembles that of a Sleeping Giant or, in geological terms, a mountain range that rolls on its side to resemble such. The erosion of the ridge of once tall peaks, from what must have been an explosive event, are said to be laying down as if to rest or sleep. This same event created the natural beauty you’ll see when riding through the Shawangunks – the white cliffs from the Wallkill Valley and the rolling hills from the Roundout.

Robert’s love of these mountains rolled into the name of his ice cream business. The imagination to create an image in one’s mind from the physical landscape, as children will do with clouds, is what Robert wants Sleeping Giant Ice Cream to be. A place to relax, imagine and enjoy. This is best said in Robert’s own words:

‘We want to preserve happy, carefree childhood. We want to preserve the endless possibilities of a child’s ability to think, wonder, imagine and pretend…Age notwithstanding. We need magic!

We want to create a space where the little moments in life can be celebrated and appreciated and remembered. That little boy over there just lost his first tooth. This young lady just made her first trip in Mom’s car with her brand new driver’s license. Those two by the fire pit are on their first date. At the picnic table, Mom, Dad, three kids and a dog. Just happy. The old timer at the window is buying one cup of ice cream with two spoons. It’s their 47th wedding anniversary…

We aim to combine the best ingredients into awesome ice cream creations that are served in a casual family like manner by a friendly staff armed with magic wands and then enjoyed in a truly happy space you can share with others or make your own. It’s a triple play that makes the magic happen. The best ice cream. The best staff. The best space.
This is what we mean when we say, “Experience the magic of ice cream! Carefree, the way it’s meant to be!”’

So when we were on our way home from the BMW Rally in Vermont on Route 209 and I spotted the beacon that is the Sleeping Giant on the hill, we made a u-turn to visit this magical spot.

Parking is plentiful as is seating at the colorful umbrellaed picnic tables and assorted benches scattered around the grounds. The smiling face of one of the staff at the windows will take your orders and, withing minutes, you will be handed a cup, homemade waffle cone or bowl, shake or sundae filled with happiness. Sleeping Giant serves both Perry’s and Gifford’s ice cream, which are both very high quality and offer some delicious flavors. Today I opted for a double cup with a scoop of Perry’s Queen of Hearts (dark chocolate ice cream with raspberry swirls and fudge-filled hearts – one of my absolute favorites) and Gifford’s Camp Coffee (coffee ice cream with whole coffee beans and fresh cream). Brian’s ice cream du jour was a large coffee milk shake made with Camp Coffee ice cream. You can also go for soft serve – vanilla, chocolate or twist – two Dole vegan soft serve flavors, or one of 24 flavors from their soft serve collection. Some other tantalizing options are their Shawangunk Conglomerate – soft serve and mix-ins of choice, such as their Strawberry Shortcake of vanilla soft serve with strawberry shortcake crumbs – or their very popular Ice Cream Tacos.

We took a seat and watched the traffic going by on Route 209. This is a great riding area, and many motorcycles passed as we sat and enjoyed our ice cream. As a matter of fact, our friends Robyn and Mike with whom we had spent the week at the BMW Rally and ridden most of the way home, rode by. We waved and tried to get them to stop, but no luck – oh well, their loss.

The riding in this area is terrific and you can’t go wrong in any direction. If you are hankerin’ for some great food before your ice cream, the RDI Bar & Road Kill Grill (28 State Route 55) is just 5 miles south in Napanoch and absolutely worth the ride. Honestly, I can’t think of a better combination for a day’s ride. Enjoy and we’ll see you on the ice cream trail.