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    Memorial Team Ice Cream

    4.0 (28 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    the entrance to the building
    Linda R.

    The Thomas Jefferson ice cream is totally worth the calories. It's a vanilla but has a touch of salted Carmel taste. There wasn't a line for ice cream when we were there but based on the rope lines it looks like it can get busy! Fast service!

    Faith D.

    I was not expecting to get ice cream while going to see Mount Rushmore since it was late (before lighting ceremony) and it was raining but I got suckered in by the sign advertising Thomas Jefferson's own vanilla ice cream recipe LOL. I got two scoops, TJ's vanilla and cookies & cream. It's interesting that vanilla would cost an extra dollar but, I guess that's what the people come for! Which actually, I was very surprised that it was so good! I was happily eating my ice cream in the rain, freezing, while watching the lighting ceremony. Would definitely get another scoop of that TJ vanilla!

    Liz M.

    They hype is real! Thomas Jefferson Vanilla ice cream for the win. Cute little ice cream place that has plenty of flavors but why get a flavor you can get anywhere else? They also sell his vanilla ice cream recipe for $1.00 it's a cute card. If you come to Mt. Rushmore stop by the ice cream place, grab a scoop and walk your butt to the memorial. You gotta try this place!

    Ice cream menu
    Samuel P.

    This is a tourist trap and I knew the price for food and drinks are high, but charging too much for a cone and double scoop of ice cream is crazy. What worse, they don't have any single scoops and forget about purchasing any candy or snacks since like everything else, is expensive as well. It's a shame because the ice cream looks tasty.

    Butter Pecan, Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip
    Salma C.

    On a hot summer day, this hits the spot. The ice cream has a nice consistency and good flavors. I had the strawberry cheesecake one which was tasty. Everyone else enjoyed their flavors. I am also a fan of their butter pecan.

    The line...it moves so slow!
    Chelsea E.

    I am a mega ice cream fanatic so I made it very clear to my sister and brother-in-law that we had to get some of TJ's ice cream while in Mt Rushmore on vacation! I'm not the biggest Thomas Jefferson fan, but if he had anything to do with ice cream, then I will cut him some slack (not too much though). They claim that the vanilla they serve here is his original recipe. I'm somewhat skeptical because I'd like to think we've come a long way in ice cream production/consistency in the past 200 years. But at the same time, I kind of want to believe it-- kind of like how you want to believe that the "grey stuff" at Disney World is cooked up by Lumiere himself (and not just colored gray frosting). The line moves pretty darn slow for a scoop shop. I even heard people asking if they could taste test and the associates told them "no because it holds up the line." Which I get, but my gosh, what IS holding up the line then?! I got the TJ OG Vanilla and classic chocolate. I thought I'd be underwhelmed, but the ice cream is surprisingly good! It was probably my favorite ice cream out of my entire vacation (I was gone for 10 days and ate a lot of ice cream!). I do have to laugh though because I'm sure this is the only establishment in America that charges $1 extra if you order the vanilla...As if the funds will go directly into Teej's wallet. I mean at least say it's for a Monticello Conservation Project or something-- there is no other reason why you should be upcharged just because a famous person created a recipe 200 years ago that you are using now. Doubt that there is patent pending on VANILLA ICE CREAM! Again, I'm ranting but it's more in jest than anything. I love all things touristy and ice cream so this was right up my alley. They lost a star because of the line management. Not as efficient as they could be for a scoop shop!

    Pecan praline in a waffle cone $5.50
    Katherine H.

    Memorial Ice Cream offers a nice dessert selection when you need sugar before making the hike around Mt. Rushmore, or can serve as a treat for making it around the park. I got one waffle cone and ice cream + one cup of ice cream and our total was about $10.50. They gave generous scoops and we were pleased with the taste. The pralines and cream were creamy and the flavor was swirled with caramel. The strawberry and cheesecake was decent. There is a front board that shares a fun fact about this ice cream shop, Thomas Jefferson wrote not only the Declaration of Independence, but also the first ice cream recipe!

    Jasmine N.

    Is this the location right in front of Mt. Rushmore/next to the souvenir shop? I always remember their mint chocolate chip ice cream being super minty. A couple years ago, the interior was very different from what it is now (the ice cream area, not the entree food area).

    Single order of Jefferson's vanilla recipe ($6)
    Lauren G.

    Our founding fathers are responsible for many things, but one of them is NOT the invention of ice cream. However, historians believe Thomas Jefferson wrote the earliest recorded ice cream recipe in America, circa the 1780s. Even this fact is a tad suspect, as the credit may actually belong to his French butler 'Adrien Petit' or his French-cuisine trained slave (side eye) 'James Hemings.' Even still, the first (known) time ice cream was documented as a dessert in the U.S. was in Maryland in 1744, when Governor Thomas Bladen served it at a dining event. But I digress, the vanilla ice cream here is super decadent and very, very good. It's creamy, and very rich--which I suspect is due to the high egg content, and the egg-to-cream ratio. It costs $6 ($1 more than the other flavors, as of Summer 2017) but surprisingly comes with 2 generous scoops.

    Strawberry Shortcake & Thomas Jefferson Vanilla (must-get flavor)
    Jack M.

    A great place to come for ice cream if you're in the area visiting the Rushmore Memorial. Though selection is relatively limited, the quality of ice cream here is pretty solid & on point. Got the strawberry cheesecake & the Thomas Jefferson Vanilla in a cup. My impressions are the following: would have liked if this place used real strawberries instead of imitation as it tasted a tad too fake/sweet. However, the Thomas Jefferson Vanilla was unreal and off the charts. I'm not sure if I've ever had as good as vanilla bean ice cream as I've had here. Not only was it sweet, but it was full of goodness that really made my taste buds scream with delight. Unsurprisingly, the ice cream here is undoutedly expensive due to the remoteness of location in the park, but definitely an ice cream shop worth stopping into if you're in the area exploring nearby!

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    5 days ago

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    4 years ago

    Not the most generous portion of 2 scoops for $6 but very good ice cream... Praline Pecan and Moose Tracks!

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    7 years ago

    My husband and I tried the butter pecan ice cream and decided it was the best we'd ever tasted!

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    11 years ago

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    Benky’s Cream And Sugar

    Benky’s Cream And Sugar

    4.5(11 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    The ice cream flavors are amazing. Best ever. Great variety. On top of that they have the most…read moredelicious shakes and sundae combinations. The service is fast and friendly. The store is cute and clean; located right by the train station. Best ice cream in keystone by far. They also have great coffee too

    With the same brand of ice cream sold in multiple shops along Tourist-Trap Strip, you're pretty…read moremuch guaranteed to have the same taste in all of them. I had wanted to try this brand when we visited the Mt. Rushmore KOA and was sorely disappointed they had so many unique flavors... but none that were multi-allergen friendly. Cue.... BENKY'S! Strange name, but friendly smiles and delicious creaminess-in-a-cup! I get chocolate peanut butter or some variation thereof (my favorite) at pretty much every ice cream place. Makes it easy for me to judge them more fairly. Benky's was creamy, the peanut butter swirled in very thin layers so it basically melted in your mouth... and the cute interior of the ice cream shop gave us a nice, cool air-conditioned place to relax and cool both our insides and outsides at the same time. They also had outdoor seating with umbrellas for shade if you're into running the sweat-race of "Can I finish this before it drips all over my hand or becomes a puddle of goo in my cup?" sort of thing. Overall, good ice cream, good experience and delicious.

    Photos
    Benky’s Cream And Sugar - View from the front door

    View from the front door

    Benky’s Cream And Sugar - Candy store also

    Candy store also

    Benky’s Cream And Sugar

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    Carver's Cafe - Thomas Jefferson ice cream recipe

    Carver's Cafe

    3.2(54 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We were starving after walking around looking at Mount Rushmore. So we stopped by the Carver's Cafe…read more(which is at the monument). The staff was super nice and attentive. And the food options were decent. I ordered the Dakota Bison Bacon Cheeseburger with the fries and both were very delicious indeed. And the space to eat in was huge with tall glass windows so you could see Rushmore not too far in the distance.

    Visited on 5/12/2026 with my family after a long morning at Mount Rushmore. The location is…read moreconvenient -- right inside the monument -- but convenience and the view are about the only things going for this place. We ordered the Philly Cheesesteak ($18), a Cheeseburger ($17.50 + $0.75), and the Grilled Chicken Platter ($14.50) for our kid. Total came out to $54.50 for three people -- which, okay, it's a tourist spot, so I expected to pay a premium. What I didn't expect was to pay premium prices for food that felt like it was barely tried. The Philly was overcooked and dry. The meat was dark and tough -- no juiciness, no flavor. For $18, that's just not acceptable. The burger looked decent but tasted flat and underwhelming. The Grilled Chicken Platter for my child was the most disappointing -- it's listed as "grilled" on the menu, but the chicken came out barely touched. Pale, soft, almost like it was steamed and then given a quick pass on the grill just for looks. The mashed potatoes and corn on the side were fine -- nothing special. I'll give credit where it's due -- the ambiance is genuinely great. Eating with a direct view of Mount Rushmore is a cool experience you won't get anywhere else, and the dining area has a nice open feel to it. Service was also okay, no real complaints there. But when you're spending $54 on a family meal and every main dish misses, the view only carries you so far. If you're visiting, pack your own food or eat before you arrive. You'll thank yourself later.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Photos
    Carver's Cafe - Interior

    Interior

    Carver's Cafe - TJ's Vanilla

    TJ's Vanilla

    Carver's Cafe - Country ice cream

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    Country ice cream

    Grapes & Grinds - Gelato

    Grapes & Grinds

    4.7(104 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    HIGHLY recommend! We loved our key lime gelato (all their…read moregelato is homemade in shop!!) We loved our iced caramel latte (even offered some whipped cream for my tween). Loved the wine tasting - I tried 5 local wines from wineries: Prairie Berry and Firehouse. The three Prairie Berry wines were all VERY fruity and sweet (two reds and one white). And the Calamity Jane blend is the sweetest they offer she said! The two Firehouse were tied for my favorite! Sangiovese and Syrah. It did NOT disappoint! My wine pourer was still getting to know the wines themselves - but she was super kind and lovely to talk to - thank you Moriah!! Mya helped us at the register and was equally amazing. No joke - we've been to a few local businesses in the Rapid City/Keystone area and every single last person we talk to is LOVELY! Everyone has been super kind, helpful and willing to help a newbie Black Hills tourist find her way around. Oh! And have you seen the yard at G&G? Filled with corn hole (2 sets), a playground, an outdoor foosball table, two giant chess sets and tons of tables and chairs. And a fabulous way to spend our lunch break from sightseeing!

    This place stands out just driving by. They got kid's playground, big chess boards, and foosball…read moreoutside. Their menu is pretty simple but tasty. Reasonable and they even offer free local wine tasting! Definitely a nice place to relax during a visit to Mt. Rushmore.

    Photos
    Grapes & Grinds - Such a cute shop!

    Such a cute shop!

    Grapes & Grinds - Outdoor activities

    Outdoor activities

    Grapes & Grinds - Caramel blended coffee (5 stars )

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    Caramel blended coffee (5 stars )

    Silver Lining Creamery - Triple Scoop (Butterscotch, Circus Town, Coffee Toffee)

    Silver Lining Creamery

    4.3(125 reviews)
    18.2 mi
    $

    Great ice cream shop in Rapid City, SD! Amazing delicious flavors! Very unique. Very clean shop and…read morevery friendly service!

    tl;dr the extra-creamy ice cream delivers on both quality and quantity; don't be afraid to sample…read morethe more adventurous flavor offerings Compared to California, the Dakotas have far fewer premium dessert destinations. But some of the states' best ice cream can be found around Rapid City, South Dakota. Enter The Silver Lining Creamery. This small-batch scoop shop only has locations in the Dakotas. But don't count out the rotating selection of premium, handcrafted ice cream. Silver Lining is routinely ranked among the best ice cream parlors in the state. The Rapid City location is at the far corner of the Main Street Square, adjacent to the covered downtown parking lot. Countless metal tables and chairs are organized on the outside patio, and the flavor lineup is markered onto a stainless steel menu beside a seasonal service window. A bulbed "ice cream" sign sits above the front entrance. Inside, the queue twists along the curved counter. Merch shelves and a grab-and-go freezer are pressed against the exposed brick wall to the right, while a half-booth is tucked into the corner beside the side entrance on the left. The two-tiered ceiling is accented by a baby blue lighted strip, while a deep blue "ice cream solves everything" neon sign is displayed against the back subway-tiled wall. Ambient music plays lightly in the background. My group visited on a Sunday evening in late spring, and Silver Lining still boasted a sizeable crowd. The flavor lineup ranged from standard to moderately ambitious -- namely, Silver Lining offered a perfume-y sage-flavored ice cream. After sampling multiple flavors, my partner and I opted to share a triple-scoop in a waffle cone. The cone was dwarfed by the giant scoops; our staff member treated it as a personal challenge to see how much ice cream the petite cone could possibly balance. The high butterfat content was unmistakable -- the ice cream was eyebrow-raisingly creamy but not overwhelmingly sweet. My favorite flavor was the mildly mocha-y Coffee Toffee, while my partner enjoyed the true-to-flavor Butterscotch. Our final flavor, Circus Town (birthday cake ice cream with frosted animal cracker), was no slouch, either. The service was efficient and accommodating, and a monster-sized triple scoop runs $8 -- a bargain by big-city standards. I left feeling impressed by the portion sizes and the execution. For a sophisticated yet crowd-pleasing dessert option, Silver Lining is a solid bet.

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    Silver Lining Creamery - The Mocha shake.  Coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup.  The best shake I've had in a LONG time!

    The Mocha shake. Coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup. The best shake I've had in a LONG time!

    Silver Lining Creamery - Four scoop sampler

    Four scoop sampler

    Silver Lining Creamery - Lots of flavors.

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    Lots of flavors.

    Memorial Team Ice Cream - icecream - Updated May 2026

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