A guide to Wichita’s many shaved ice stands, now that the weather is sweaty
It’s June, that time of the year when the weather gets hot and a giant cup of sugary ice sounds pretty good.
Most of the Wichita trucks have been out and about for a few weeks now. And owners are reporting an uptick in business this year, likely spurred by stir-crazy families stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following is a guide to where you can find many of Wichita’s most popular shaved ice trailers and huts in Wichita. Know of one I missed? E-mail me at dneil@wichitaeagle.com.
Flamingo Sno Shaved Ice, 600 S. Tyler Road: This trailer, a tradition on Tyler Road, offers 70 flavors of shaved ice plus 10 that are sugar free. It’s hours are 1 to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Ice Caps Shave Ice: Wichita has two locations of this Tropical Sno vendor: One on the northwest corner of 13th and Ridge and one in the parking lot of Towne East, off Rock Road by Noodles and Company. Hours at both are 1 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Ice Caps serves a variety of Hawaiian shave ice flavors, including some topped with cream and served with color-changing spoons.
Kona Ice: This shaved ice truck, which lost the majority of its event business during the coronavirus shutdown, has started a new venture: a shaved ice delivery service called KurbsideKona. A family can order shaved ice treats, pay online and then the truck delivers to different areas of the metro area every day. To place an order, visit https://www.kona-ice.com/find-a-kona, enter your zip code and click on the KurbsideKona icon. In addition, Kona Ice of Central Wichita has two trucks parked in regular places. One is at 1014 N. Second in Mulvane that’s open from 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Another one can frequently be found B-1 Market Center at 2626 S. Rock Road. Check its hours, which change, on the Facebook Page for Kona Ice of Central Wichita.
Mimi’s Eskimo Sno: This mobile so cone stand is usually set up at 2445 S. Seneca, in the Westway Marketplace. Its hours are noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
The North Shore Shave Ice: This Hawaiian Shave Ice trailer is usually set up in a parking lot at 37th and Woodlawn, but it also roams around town. This weekend, it will be at 37th and Woodlawn from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, closed Saturday for a private event, and at Chicken N Pickle from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Keep track of its movements on its Facebook page.
Rockin Rico’s Sno Balls: This popular shaved ice vendor (whose trailer was swiped a few weeks ago in Wichita but then quickly recovered) is set up at the corner of Rock and Kellogg from 1 to 9 p.m. daily. It’s on the southeast corner in the Mattress Firm parking lot, and the menu features New Orleans-style shaved ice in flavors like strawberry and bubble gum or gourmet concoctions like Coconut Creme Pie, made with coconut syrup, vanilla cream, coconut flakes and a sweet drizzle. Sno balls also can be ordered with a scoop of ice cream. A Derby location will be opening soon in the parking lot of the Mattress Firm at 1725 N. Rock Road.
Near Wichita
Mrs. Cole’s Tropical Sno, 103 N. Main St., Goddard: This shaved ice business usually offers dine-in seating, but this summer, it’s open for walk up service only. It serves cream-topped sno cones in flavors like banana pudding, root beer float and wedding cake, and it also has more traditional flavors like Tiger’s Blood, black cherry and grape. (There’s also a dill pickle option.) Its hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Breezy’s Snow Shack: This Valley Center sno cone stand is at 323 S. Meridian, right by Big Larry’s Burgers. Hours are 1 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays unless the truck is parked at an event. Watch the Facebook page for updates.
Slushy Hut Summer Snow: This sno cone stands operates at Central and Andover Road in Andover. Its hours are 1 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 1 to 7 p.m. Saturdays.
Rose Hill Strike Zone: Batting and Shaved Ice: There’s a popular sno cone vendor set up at the batting cages at 340 E. Silknitter St. in Rose Hill. Its hours are 3:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Snowbiz Delights: Longtime concession stand owner Sonja Ottaway Ottlinger has set up her shaved ice trailer at the corner of Baltimore and K-15 in Derby. Eventually, she’ll bring her Big Lemon lemonade stand, too. Her hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 5:01 AM.
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