Ivanhoe's in Upland, Indiana

About Ivanhoe's

2008-03-15T09:00:00.003-04:00

Summary:
Ivanhoe's is the wonderful restaurant and ice cream shop in Upland, Indiana where Taylor University is located.

About Ivanhoe's:
Ivanhoe's is known for having 100 different shakes and 100 different sundaes. Ivan, Carol and Mark Slain have owned and operated "Ivanhoe's Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe," formerly "Wiley's Drive-In," since 1965. Though it is famous for its ice cream, the regular food is just as good. You can get great hamburgers, salads, tenderloin and sandwiches. Though Ivanhoe's is a famous tourist stop for people from miles around, the locals also dine there because of its fresh food and consistent quality.

One reviewer wrote:

"The people who come into the restaurant are friendly, as are those who serve at the restaurant. Year round they offer fresh, tasty vegetables and fruit, and their food is made to order. They know how to serve food that people love to eat, and they have many healthy choices."

Ivanhoe's Information:
Phone number: 765.998.7261.
Address: 979 South Main St, Upland, IN 46989-9131
Hours:
Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.
For directions from Mapquest.com, click here.

Menu and Takeout:
Download the 2007 Ivanhoe's Menu here. It is 6 MB. (2 minutes to download with 3.0 Mbps high speed internet).
To read the pdf document, you will need Adobe Reader (which most computers already have that application installed). It is free to download here if you don't already have it.

About Taylor University:
Taylor University is a Christian college of about 1900 students. Drive by and see if a sporting event is going on while you are in town. Taylor University is located about eight blocks south of Ivanhoe's. You can't miss it. See the Wikipedia article on Taylor University.

About Upland:
The population of Upland was 3,803 at the 2000 census according to the Wikipedia article on Upland.

The best playground in town for the kids is three minutes away at the little league fields at the corner of W. Washington and N. 8th Street. It would be a great place to bring your ice cream. To get there from Ivanhoe's, go north on Main Street and take a left on Washington. It will be on your left.

Upland is located between Ft. Wayne (1 hour north) and Indianapolis (1 1/2 hours south). It is about 40 minutes from Muncie where Ball State University is located. It is about 20 minutes from Marion where Indiana Wesleyan University is located. It is about 40 minutes from Anderson University. It is about 40 minutes from Huntington University. It is about 2 hours from Purdue University.

James Dean Museum nearby:
If you are interested in James Dean, check out the Fairmont Historical Museum which has a lot of information about him since Fairmont was Dean's hometown. Here are directions from Ivanhoe's (22 minutes). (USA Today recommends pairing Dean with Ivanhoe's here.) There is also information at the museum about Jim Davis, the Garfield cartoon creator.

Below are five newspaper articles about Ivanhoe's.

"Getting the Inside Scoop": Fort Wayne News-Sentinel

2005-08-13T13:46:00.002-04:00

Getting the Inside Scoop

Come, countrymen, you have 100 varieties of tasty shakes and sundaes to sample

By Kayleen Reusser

Fort Wayne News-Sentinel

Posted on Sat, Aug. 13, 2005

If you’re not someone who likes to join clubs, you’ll change your mind with the 100 Club at Ivanhoe’s restaurant in Upland.

Joining is simple: Sign up at the check-out counter of the restaurant, located about 50 miles south of Fort Wayne.

The requirements are slightly more difficult. To be awarded a T-shirt bearing the Ivanhoe’s logo and have your name put on the plaque in the restaurant, you must eat 100 different Ivanhoe’s sundaes or shakes.

This year marks the 40th year Ivanhoe’s has been serving ice cream treats and food in downtown Upland.

Customers thinking of joining the 100 club face a tough assignment. The toughest part, however, may be deciding what shake or sundae flavor to choose first. With names like Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel, Grasshopper, Peach Melba, Cashew Crunch and S’Mores, it can be nearly impossible to narrow the list down to the first five.

Apparently, most people don’t have a problem deciding what to order when they get to Ivanhoe’s ice cream counter. The restaurant sold 7,200 gallons of soft-serve ice cream in 2004, said Mark Souers, who has worked at Ivanhoe’s for more than 17 years and is one of four general managers.

Souers also knows which sundaes and shakes are customer favorites: Mint Chocolate Chip shake and Turtle sundae.

Ivanhoe’s sells the same number of sundaes as shakes, he adds.

Anyone who has ever been to “’Hoe’s,” as the restaurant is affectionately called, can verify it stays busy most hours it is open. Taylor University’s main campus is just down the road, and college students are regulars.

Getting back to the 100 Club, each shake and sundae is assigned a number from 1 to 100. Each membership card has those numbers listed and, each time you buy one, the cashier checks off that number.

The good news is you don’t have to indulge solely in 100 sundaes. You can jump to shakes because Ivanhoe’s makes many of the same flavor combinations in a milkshake or sundae.

To further complicate matters, there are three sizes to choose from: mini, regular and super. At 9 ounces of ice cream, the mini is plenty, especially with the bountiful toppings. The regular size has 16 ounces of ice cream, while the super weighs in at a daunting 32 ounces.

Ivanhoe’s, which has been profiled in Midwest Living and Indianapolis Monthly magazines, got its start when Ivan and Carol Slain bought Wiley’s Drive-In on Main Street in Upland.

The Slains opened a sit-down restaurant — a first for them — and had one year to change the name. The Slains decided on the present name after a high school student who worked there called his employer “Ivanhoe.”

It seems the student was studying knights in school and, upon learning there was a knight named Sir Ivanhoe, he thought his boss deserved the title. The name stuck.

Ivan and Carol Slain continue to work at the restaurant, though they are cutting back their schedules as their son takes over running the restaurant, Souers said.

As for the 100 Club, Souers credits a Taylor University student for the club’s formation in 2001.

“He went through the menu and tried everything on it,” Souers said. “Afterward, we took his picture. He later sent us a plaque and suggested we do a club.”

Since then, 16 names have been written on the plaque.With the way the ice cream tastes, there surely will be more.

Ivanhoe’s Restaurant

♦When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 2-10 p.m. Sunday.

♦Where: 979 S. Main St. in Upland, about 50 miles south of Fort Wayne. From Fort Wayne, take Interstate 69 south to Indiana 22 (Exit 59), go east on Indiana 22 into Upland, where it becomes Main Street.

♦Phone: 1-765-998-7261

Northeast Indiana offers many great family-owned places.

Tell us some of your favorites.

We’ll publish the list soon so ice cream lovers can check them out.

Send your recommendations to: Best Ice Cream Stands, Features, The News-Sentinel, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46805, or send to nsfeatures@news-sentinel.com.

TOP: Jessica Couch scoops butter pecan ice cream onto a waffle cone for a customer.

LEFT: Hanna Croft, 8, and sister, Sarah, 6, peer at the selections in one of the ice cream freezers at Ivanhoe’s.

MIDDLE: Some of the 100 different milkshakes available at Ivanhoe’s in Upland. A second poster lists all 100 sundaes.

RIGHT: Ed Gerstorff and Frances Wilson enjoy lunch at Ivanhoe’s on a recent afternoon. Gerstorff, who moved to Upland in 1949 but has lived in Marion for the last 11 years, still goes to Ivanhoe’s almost every day.

"Students Achieve Ivanhoe's Milestone": Taylor University Magazine

2005-03-31T15:50:00.001-05:00

Students Achieve Ivanhoe's Milestone

March 31, 2005

Taylor University Magazine

When you first walk into Ivanhoe's, you might stand in indecision, trying to pick one of the many flavors of shakes or sundaes. You want to make sure that you choose something good, but who can you ask? Has any Taylor student really eaten their way through the entire list of 100 flavors?

As a matter of fact, yes. During the past school year, two Taylor students, juniors Marci Klayder and Nathan Clark, have joined the ranks of Ivanhoe's 100 Club.

Clark completed 100 sundaes in December and Klayder finished off 100 shakes in February -- the quest took them a little over two years.

Klayder has always been the ambitious sort. When she was a child, her family decided to map out their church parking lot and park in a new spot every week. And she didn't stop there; she has also eaten every one of the offerings from a sub shop in her hometown and is currently wading through a reading list of 100 "must-read" books for college students. She is also watching each of the American Film Institute's Top 100 films.

"It's what I've grown up with," Klayder said. "I like to try a lot of different things."

For Clark, the motive was a bit more basic. "I like ice cream," he said with a smile. He added he likes the feeling of completing a task – it's something he encourages others to do.

Neither Klayder nor Clark adhered to a specific schedule during their climb to the century mark. When possible, they bought the mini-sized offerings, and trips to the local eatery came at least once a week during the school year.

But the road did not come without potholes. Each confessed to not absolutely loving every offering they had. Klayder, who doesn't like nuts, said her least favorite shakes were ones that contained pecans. However, her favorite was one of the simplest options, the "Chocolate Chip" shake.

And the financial crunch was not as significant as one might suspect. "It's just a snack," Klayder said. "It's just one thing you do." Clark pointed out that he doesn't drink gourmet coffees or regularly eat out, so the money is about the same as what other students spend.

To reward their achievement, Ivanhoe's engraved the students' names on their 100 Club plaque and gave them free 100 Club tee-shirts. In spite of the volume of ice cream eaten, Klayder's shirt was too large for her and now hangs in her room as decoration. "People are surprised because I am so small," she confided.

According to Jessica Collins, a manager at Ivanhoe's, the first person to complete the 100 Club did it in 1976. Since then, it has become an event, not just for Taylor students, but for the Upland community. "It's really [meant] to get people excited about trying different options," Collins said. "People in the community do it, and there's a lot of competition between friends."

Through their experience with the 100 Club, both Klayder and Clark have gained a greater appreciation for Ivanhoe's. "It's really good for your money," Klayder said, adding that all of their products were fresh and not pre-packaged.

Clark, on the other hand, noticed something different about Ivanhoe's. "I've been impressed with the system that Ivanhoe's has in place," he said. "On busy days, they can get … 300 people through in 30 minutes."

So, were either Klayder or Clark ready to take a vacation from ice cream after their feat? Not at all. Each has continued to eat at the restaurant since joining the 100 Club. Although Klayder has tried a couple of sundaes, she is not planning to complete that list. Clark has gone the simpler route, opting for different flavors of ice cream in a waffle cone.

Both of them encourage other Taylor students to go for the 100 Club. "If [you] like ice cream, it's a neat goal to have," Clark said.

– Elizabeth Diffin

"James Dean, Utopia and spelunking in the heartland": USA Today

2003-10-01T20:03:00.001-04:00

James Dean, Utopia and spelunking in the heartland

By Mary Mihaly, special for USATODAY.com

October 2003

Indianapolis is a good starting point for a variety of day trips focusing on everything from James Dean to views of Utopian lifestyles to architectural wonders and spelunking.

Home of cool — All of Grant County, about an hour north of Indianapolis, claims the late James Dean as its native son and a tourist industry has been built around the actor's legacy. Styling itself as "James Dean Country — Where cool was born" may be stretching things a bit, but fans of Dean's short but impressive acting career will find something of interest here, whether it's his boyhood home, the shop where he got his first motorcycle or his grave. A memorial service is held every September 30 at the Back Creek Friends Church on the anniversary of his death in 1955. Tourist spots are well marked, but making the James Dean Gallery on Main Street your first stop gets you in the thick of things. Non-Dean related attractions nearby include the six-mile drive north to the Mississinewa Battlefield, site of a famous War of 1812 battle, a variety of festivals, fairs and Ivanhoe's Restaurant on State Road 22 in Upland, a spot that's known for serving more than 100 varieties of ice cream sundaes and shakes. 765-668-5435 or 800-662-9474; http://www.jamesdeancountry.com/.

"Ivanhoe's ice cream": Ball State Daily News

2003-07-14T14:41:00.002-04:00

Ivanhoe's ice cream

Small town restaurant offers wide variety of sweet frozen desserts in quaint atmosphere

By: Candace Beaty

Posted: 7/14/03

Ball State Daily News

It's a simple building located in the small town of Upland, Ind. Ivanhoe's is the home of the simple pleasure of ice cream. Two hundred different choices of ice cream to be exact.

"I've heard a customer say Ivanhoe's is the eighth wonder of the world," Todd Cowgill said, general manager at Ivanhoe's.

It was started by Ivan and Carol Slain in 1965. The then small shop offered only the three basic ice cream flavors of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

Ivanhoe's used to close down during the winter and Ivan and Carol would travel while trying to think of new ways to serve their ice cream. Over the years, the menu grew and reached the famous numbers of 100 sundaes and 100 shakes.

Although the menu remains at 200, the sundaes and shakes flavors do change.

"There is always room for change and improvement," Cowgill said.

The featured new creation this month is "the great shake." The name being a play on words from Tony the tiger, the shake consists of frosted flakes, strawberries and bananas.

While the hot summer months continue, Ivanhoe's remains busy as many people crave the cool treat of ice cream.

"Summer is our peak season," Cowgill said. "During the winter time, it slacks down quite a bit."

During the summer months, he said 500 plus people visit Ivanhoe's. "It's just a busy place, very busy," he said.

Lines have been known to extend out the door and across the parking lot.

"People like to gather over here. I think that's why they don't mind waiting in line," he said. Although Cowgill has met people at Ivanhoe's who have made trips from as far away as Michigan just to come and experience the quaint ice cream shop, the locals are the ones that keep the Ivanhoe's business busy.

"I see people who come in everyday and order the same thing everyday," he said. "We have quite a few that come in twice or sometimes three times a day."

Sara Korfmacher, a sophomore at Eastbrook High School and a native of Upland, visits Ivanhoe's four or five times a week.

"I like coming down here because there's always someone I know, one of my friends here," she said.

Korfmacher likes to just hang out at Ivanhoe's and order a milkshake.

"It's a very friendly atmosphere," Brian Robinson said, senior at Eastbrook High School.

Robinson is a fan of the red, white and blue sundae and the dirt cup sundae.

Cowgill believes that the reason so many people keep going back for more is the "freshness of everything and the quality."

Nancy Lutz of Marion said she and her family like to go to Ivanhoe's for special occasions. On Wednesday, Lutz went to Ivanhoe's to treat family who was visiting from North Carolina.

"When they come in, we go to Ivanhoe's," she said. "We are all ice cream eaters in this family."

Lutz enjoys the restaurant because of "the novelty of the variety of ice cream flavors."

She also thinks the atmosphere is nice.

"We range from ages five to 71," Lutz said, referring to her grandchildren and herself. "It's for all ages."

"Ice Cold Memories": Taylor Magazine

2000-09-01T19:34:00.001-04:00

Ice Cold Memories
by April Rediger
Class of 2001
Taylor Magazine - Fall 2000.

On a hot August afternoon, the line at Ivanhoes often swells past the doors of the little diner and wraps around the outside of the building. Almost anyone who has ever set foot on Taylor’s campus has stood in one of those infamous Ivanhoes’ lines, and most would say the mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone was well worth the wait.

For more than three decades, Taylor University and Ivanhoes have been almost inseparable, and what began in 1960 as Wiley’s Drive-In has turned into a local hangout and somewhat of a local legend. This summer Ivanhoes celebrated 35 years of ownership under Ivan and Carol Slain.

"Without Taylor, we wouldn’t be here," Slain says. "Taylor has really spurred our growth."

Ivanhoes has been a part of many lunch outings, Friday night dates and wing get-togethers, and is a favorite spot for campus visitors as well. "We eat at Ivanhoes every time we go to Taylor," says Kathy Bohm, parent of a Taylor graduate and present student. "We see a lot of parents and kids there that we wouldn’t see otherwise."

Even during the summer months when students are gone, Taylor still provides a significant amount of business with basketball and church camps or freshman orientations. Coach Don Odle ’42 remembers recommending Ivanhoes as a dinner stop for parents and campers coming to basketball camp in the pre-camp newsletter. "During that first year, nearly half the campers mentioned what a great idea it was to eat at Ivanhoes," Odle says. Contests were held among counselors and campers, with the loser treating the winner to "Hoes."

"I can remember when 10 to 15 sweaty, smelly campers were lined up for an ice-cream cone," Odle says.

As the smell of fresh hamburgers wafts across the street, Taylor graduates of the past reminisce of good times spent at Ivanhoes. Jean Godfrey ’50 and her husband Oliver remember eating soft serve cones from a little stand in the 60s and socializing with friends in the morning over homemade rolls during the time when Ivanhoes served breakfast. Their daughter celebrated good report cards with free shakes from Hoes. From their house across the street from the restaurant, the family watched as the small establishment became a well-known landmark.

Although Ivanhoes has undergone many changes, from building size to menu expansion, the quality remains the same. Of all the changes, the menu has evolved the most. What began with three choices of vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry milkshakes 35 ago has now become an extensive list of 100 shakes and 100 sundaes that challenges the indecisive customer.

Taylor students have even started a new tradition called the 100 Club. In order to join the club, one must try all 100 shakes and or sundaes and have a card stamped for each one. Once completed, members receive a free T-shirt and their names on a plaque.

So far Taylor graduates Jim Snellink ’76 and Weston Young ’98 have conquered the feat. Young began the challenge his second week at Taylor as a freshman and finished his 100th shake his last semester as a senior. In a speech written to commemorate his final shake, he says, "After spending $250 on shakes, I use the phrase ‘healthy investment’ for a reason . . . I now see my quest to eat all 100 shakes as a four-year period of opportunity to build closer and deeper friendships."

Young remembers most of the shakes and the occasion surrounding their purchase. Shake #42 was eaten on his birthday with his roommate and two special young women from Olson Hall; shake #28, the Chocolate Orange Peel, was eaten with other personnel assistants (PAs). Young says this particular flavor "represents the makeup of the Wengatz PAs: very sweet, but a unique combination of ordinary guys trying to serve an extraordinary God." Young hopes the 100 Club will continue to encourage an opportunity to build friendships while eating a variety of unique flavors. He adds at the end, "Even after all those shakes, I’m still a slim 165."

In spite of the hundreds of choices, one flavor remains a favorite. The order for mint chocolate chip remains among the most popular for the Taylor community. As many as 40 tubs a week are ordered. Slain relays the humorous story of how new delivery drivers think a mistake has been made when they see over 30 tubs of mint chocolate chip ordered for the small Upland store.

So what is in store for Ivanhoes in the next 35 years? Running Ivanhoes has been a full time job for the Slains. "My wife and I have put our lives into it nearly seven days a week, open to close," says Slain. He anticipates his son Mark, one of the present managers, will take over the business some day.

One thing is for certain though; as long as Ivanhoes remains, Taylor people will continue to come and go just as they have been for the past 35 years. Whether they are new students arriving on campus for the first time, campers taking a break from a hard work-out, or residents enjoying a treat, new memories will form and old ones will remain as friends gather to dine at a little restaurant called Ivanhoes.

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2000-01-01T15:07:00.001-05:00

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