Small-Town Nostalgia at Toad’s Too Ice Cream in Freeville, NY

In the middle of little Freeville, there’s a real gem of an ice cream stand. Toad’s Too Ice Cream Oasis has been serving up dozens of varieties of cones and bowls for nearly 30 years, and while nearby Ithaca (about 10 miles away) gets all the glory for being the home of the ice cream sundae, you’ll find some great small-town flavor here.

Whether you happen to be passing by on Route 13 or want to take a scenic drive around Tompkins County, I recommend a visit. You could also make it a stop along the Dryden Rail Trail, which is great for walking or biking.

Stopping in has definitely become part of one of our summer rituals: first, story hour at the lovely Southworth Library in Dryden (if you live in the area, check it out!) and Toad’s Too for dessert on the way home. The kids love it, of course.

Ice Cream at Toad’s Too

So, what makes Toad’s Too so special?

Well, the ice cream isn’t homemade, but it’s very good. Owner Kathy Perkins carries premium hard ice creams by Gifford’s from Skowhegan, ME; Perry’s from Akron, NY; and Turkey Hill from Lancaster County, PA. The soft serve is made by Hood. 

With 45 hard flavors (including lactose-free, sugar-free and vegan options) and something like 60 soft serve options, you’d have to be an ice cream grump not to find something to like.

I keep experimenting with new flavors, but I often come back to my personal favorites, which are Perry’s Rum Raisin and Gifford’s Maine Deer Tracks (espresso ice cream with heath bar candies and thick chocolate fudge – yum!). The kids are pretty much sticking with vanilla and chocolate for now, and in our entire courtship and marriage, I’ve never seen Andrew order anything besides mint chocolate chip.

On a really hot day, try the Pineapple Dole Whip. It’s what Kathy goes for to cool down. She made sure I sampled it, and I have to agree, it’s very tropical and refreshing.

Whatever flavor you choose, be warned: You may want to order down a size, because portions are generous, to say the least! With the hard flavors, an adult may be perfectly content with a kiddy cone (two small scoops), and a small (three small scoops) is what often passes for a medium at other places. I don’t think I’ve ever dared to order above a medium (the biggest is large). 

If you’re not in the mood for ice cream (what?!) or want to get some “real” food in first, there’s a small menu of savory items like hot dogs, corn dogs, and pulled pork.

Some Toad’s Too History

But probably more than the many interesting ice cream options and big cones, what draws people is the family-friendly, small-town atmosphere. In the decade or so that we’ve been coming here for our creamy cold fix, I haven’t noticed many changes, including the menu boards and the slightly old-fashioned tables.

And then of course there’s the owner, Kathy, who’s a welcoming, authentic presence through the little glass window. She knows her regulars, and they appreciate her. I overheard one woman telling Kathy: “You’ve spoiled me for anywhere else.”

In the early 1990s, Kathy’s late husband opened a diner across the road. It was named Toad’s, after his father’s nickname. In 2000, he moved all ice cream operations across the road to the current, then newly refurbished building (Toad’s Too) when he realized that it would be much more fun for kids to be outdoors with lots of space. “You get them all sugared up, they’ve gotta run,” Kathy says. “I told him, you do that side, I’ll do this side.” And that’s where she’s been serving up ice cream ever since. (The diner has closed in the meantime.)

After over three decades working as a nurse and another 10 years as a county clerk, Kathy is happy as a clam in her “Zen place.” Don’t even try disturbing that peace with talk about politics and such. “No, no, no, no–all that’s out, take it to the road. This is a happy place!” You heard her. 

You’ll see her doing it all: unloading trucks, cleaning, serving ice cream–helped only a few hours a week by a couple of teenagers and her friend April. Have your kids keep an eye out for April (“She’s even crazier than I am.”), who may just show up dressed in a Wonder Woman costume.

Visiting Toad’s Too with Kids

Kids are obviously more than welcome here. To keep them entertained, there’s a fun little toad-themed garden corner with pond to explore. Be prepared to throw 50 cents into one of two coin-operated horses and a rocket right out front for what felt like a pretty short ride when we tried it out. 

Do keep an eye on the littles, because Toad’s is near the road, with only a few parked cars in between. 

You could also relocate to the Freeville Station Park a few steps away, a newish structure which consists of a few benches around an old piece of railroad track.

If some more serious playtime is in order to work out the sugar high, there’s a playground a minute away by car (8 minute walk) at the Freeville Elementary School, across from the post office and tucked behind the Freeville United Methodist church.

Things to do nearby

If you’re in the mood for a kid-friendly walk, consider the loop trail or the boardwalk at the Roy H. Park Preserve in the hills of Dryden, about 10 minutes away by car.

Have you visited Toad’s Too? How was it? If you’re a regular, what’s your favorite flavor? And what other ice cream stands should we visit? Let us know in the comments!

And if you like ice cream and sweets in general, you may be interested in these posts:

• A history of the ice cream sundae, invented in Ithaca!
• My roundup of the best ice cream shops in Ithaca.
• A tasty to do list of chocolate shops in the Finger Lakes and the best artisanal chocolate in the region.

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