Tucked away in the southern pocket of Frederick County is a small village known as Tuscarora. It's a country setting along the Potomac River, next to a town called Point of Rocks. There's a hot spot there, that is sure to cool you off. Locals, along with folks commuting from D.C. and Leesburg, Virginia know the scoop.
It's Rocky Point Creamery; a dairy farm that was recently voted the best ice cream and frozen dessert in Frederick County by Frederick Magazine. They're serving up farm fresh ice cream, straight from their cow's milk to you.
Chuck Fry, and wife Emily Snyder, are the owners and operators of Rocky Point Creamery, where Chuck's family has been tending the land since 1883. He's a fourth generation farmer, where they own 200 acres of Frederick countryside. They farm a total of 600 acres, that grows corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and more. Cows have always been on their land, but it wasn't until 2011 that they opened the creamery to serve the public directly from their farm.
With over 300 cows, they're shipping 6,000 lbs. of milk every other day. You can find some of it at your local grocery store, and even at the nearby Starbucks. But customers really get to know their products when visiting the farm.
I'm always amazed at how far people will drive.
- Emily Snyder
It's a welcoming environment, with cow themed decor and green pastures all around. There's a playset for the littlest of visitors, and a party room that can be rented for events.
Inside, you can pick out your favorite ice cream, milk, custom made cheeses, and frozen beef to take home. Don't want to pop in? You can order all your favorites from their drive-thru. Yes, drive-thru ice cream!
During the spring, ice cream is made fresh in-house twice a week. When school lets out, Rocky Point Creamery will be making ice cream three to four times a week to keep up with demand. That's over 100 pans of ice cream per day. The waffle cones are homemade, and you can smell their sugary sweetness as soon as you walk inside.
While touring the farm, you can see the progression of how dairy farming has changed over the years. From lining the cows up and milking them by hand, to using a parlor where you would put milkers on them. The buildings carry a lot of history, and the presence of tremendous work ethic.
It was lots of physical labor; hard on your back. Not quite as efficient, but in the day, that was the way to do it.
- Emily Snyder
Now, the dairy operation is fully robotic, relying on modern technology to milk the cows. With the click of a button, they can see how much a cow produces, how long she has been milked, what her age is, and so on.
Dairy farming is an extensive process. As consumers, we can run to any store, and grab a gallon of milk. We don't get to see how many steps it takes to make it happen.
It's not their fault. People are now three or four generations removed from the farm. So, if you don't have any access to a farm, or a reason to visit one, why would you?
- Emily Snyder
Just beyond the milking operation is the cow barn. It offers a cozy spot for their cattle to rest. Proper ventilation, fans, water, feed, rotating brushes and mattresses are thoughtfully placed throughout.
Down the hill, you'll find the calf barn. Also known as cuteness overload!
As you walk back to the creamery, there is an open field that will be in full bloom this summer. For seven years, Chuck and Emily have planted two acres of sunflowers near the road. It was initially created to encourage passersby to stop in for a treat. But, they decided to take it a step further. For every flower bought, 100% of the proceeds goes to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. In 2020 alone, they were able to donate $9,000.
My children and I had an incredible experience at Rocky Point Creamery. Emily was a gracious host, and extremely knowledgeable. She has a degree in Agriculture Science and Technology from University of Maryland. But, she's quick to acknowledge that Chuck is the farmer. They have a two year old daughter, making her the fifth generation to live on their family homestead.
Rocky Point Creamery is a place to commune and celebrate. Get to know your local farmer, and grab an award-winning ice cream while you're at it. You won't be disappointed!
For more information, visit www.rockypointcreamery.com
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