Dan & Debbies Creamery

Dan and Debbie's Creamery is a family dairy in Ely, Iowa, that milks about 150 Holstein cows and makes its own milk, cheese curds, butter, aged cheddar and small-batch ice cream from that milk. The creamery sells ice cream from a dipping cabinet with 16 flavors that rotate with the seasons. The milk is non-homogenized, so the cream rises to the top and should be shaken before drinking. The store also carries jams, honey and baked goods made by other Iowa producers.

The store is open every day, and the viewing room looks down into the production room whenever the store is open. Tours are private group tours booked ahead of time for schools and organizations, and walk-ins are not accepted. Home delivery runs one day a week and can include other local Iowa products. If you plan to take cheese curds or butter home on a warm day, bring a cooler with ice packs. The creamery sits along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.