As summer arrives in earnest, Route 66ers’ thoughts understandably will go to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis.
But another Route 66 city 200 miles west of St. Louis boasts its own frozen treat and considerable longevity — Pineapple Whip, marking its 50th season this year in its hometown of Springfield, Missouri.
The Springfield Daily Citizen has the story on the origin of Pineapple Whip, a juice-based soft serve invented by Dan Fortner in 1974 and introduced at the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield.
Some tidbits from the article:
— The original trailer where Pineapple Whip first was offered 50 years ago is still serving its original purpose, at its Battlefield Road location in Springfield.
— Dan Fortner’s sons began to concentrate more on the Pineapple Whip side of the business after Dan’s health declined and the concessions business changed at the fair. Pineapple Whip now is in its third generation.
— Though Pineapple Whip over the years began to dish up other flavors such as lemon-berry, grape, mango-peach and banana-pomegranate, its classic pineapple remains unchanged from the first time it was offered 50 years ago.
— Pineapple Whip offers an annual Whip Solstice during the dead of winter. The rest of the off-season, it’s closed. But business is surprisingly brisk (pun intended) during that annual event, with lines as long as 100 people.
— Pineapple Whip has a few franchises in Arkansas, Kansas and North Carolina. But the family remains committed to doing what they do well and isn’t focused on growth.
— In case you’re wondering, Pineapple Whip is older than the better-known Dole Whip by 10 years. It’s believed Dole Whip was turned down for a trademark because Pineapple Whip predates it.
The closest Pineapple Whip to Route 66 is 1147 S. Glenstone Ave., about a mile south of the landmark Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven.
(Image of a Pineapple Whip stand in Springfield, Missouri, by Jo Naylor via Flickr; image of a Pineapple Whip treat via Facebook)