June | 2018 | EVE OF STEVE

On a recent evening, my fiancée, Alyssa, and I departed her house in Auburn, bound for one of our favorite ice cream joints in town to satisfy our mutual post-dinner sweet tooth. Our destination, though, ended up being closed. So, we headed to another ice cream joint, this one in nearby Garrett. We arrived, however, to the sight of cars surrounding the small, drive-through establishment.

Not wanting to fight the crowd – but also not wanting to give up our quest for ice cream – we did a quick Google search for other ice cream shops in the area. According to my phone, Magic Wand, in Churubusco, was less than 30 minutes away. Having grown up near Churubusco, making evening pilgrimages to Magic Wand with my family had been a tradition. When I realized how close it was, I was game to return.

Upon arriving at Magic Wand, a glance inside revealed that it hadn’t changed a bit since my youth; it remained decorated, amusingly, in colorful clown imagery from floor to ceiling. A nice night out, Alyssa and I placed our orders at the Wand’s walk-up window. She ordered a Reese’s Pieces sundae, named in honor of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, while I got a peanut butter shake. With our ice cream in hand, we grabbed seats on a patio nearby the walk-up window.

Locals came and went as we snacked on our treats. It was fun, blending in with them, becoming members of the community, if only for an evening.

While Magic Wand hadn’t been Alyssa and I’s original destination that night, I was glad we’d found our way there. In the days that followed, the whole experience got me thinking: how many other Magic Wands are out there, nestled in the communities of Northeast Indiana?

Well… as it turns out, this corner of the Hoosier State is teeming with charming ice cream shops! I’ve compiled a list of them below.

So, over the next few months, if mini-road trips to grab waffle cones at places with loads of character sounds like fun, join me on the Summer Ice Cream Tour.

Note: This list highlights establishments located throughout the 11 counties that comprise Northeast Indiana. It is, by no means, complete; if I’ve missed a cool place, let me know! Also, while I adore chains like Zesto, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, etc. this list is dedicated to unique local spots that can’t be found anywhere else.

ADAMS COUNTY