Frost Shop (Demolished)
Mariposa, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

Travelers going to Yosemite will be refreshed by the sight of the Frost Shop drive-in in Mariposa. Located along Highway 49 in Mariposa, the Frost Shop also features a fine neon sign. Many thanks to Adriene Biondo for info.

Heading through Mariposa on Highway 140, the Frost Shop offered a little roadside refreshment on the way toward Yosemite. Check out the ice cream cone on its neon sign, giving hungry travelers a pretty good hint about what to order. With more mountain driving ahead, this looked like a handy place to pull over for a snack and a few photos before continuing up the road.

Frost Shop
Mariposa, CA
Photo courtesy Jimmy Bowman

The Frost Shop opened in 1957, joining the roadside stops serving families exploring California by car. Its location near the meeting of Highways 140 and 49 put it along a well-traveled route through town. For motorists headed toward Yosemite, a burger and something cold could make a welcome break from the drive.

Locals had plenty of reasons to stop, too. The Frost Shop became a gathering place after Little League games and school events, with burgers, crinkle-cut fries, root beer floats, and banana splits on the menu. Quite a few choices for a quick snack. Order a banana split and that stop might take a little longer than planned.

Unfortunately, Yosemite travelers will have to find another place for refreshments. The Frost Shop was demolished recently, being bulldozed to the ice cream castle in the sky.

Frost Shop Bulldozed Lot
Mariposa, CA
Photo courtesy Jimmy Bowman

The neon ice cream cone added something extra for the roadside camera, especially when the light began to fade. No need for a complicated sales pitch with a dessert pictured above the place.

UPDATE: The Frost Shop in Mariposa was indeed bulldozed lately with just dirt and rubble left in the lot. Photos and update courtesy Jimmy Bowman 08-05

UPDATE: The Frost Shop was demolished in 2005, and its original neon sign is gone. After years as a vacant lot, the corner became Frost Shop Marketplace, an outdoor gathering space for food trucks, local artisans, and community events. The name carries over from the old drive-in, bringing another food stop to this corner along the Yosemite route. 09-26

Dewar's
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

For a flashback to the old ice cream shops, check out Dewar's in Bakersfield. The neon lettering and ice cream cone give this Eye Street institution a little extra flavor after dark. A good stop while making the evening photo rounds, especially on a warm summer night when that cone starts looking like more than just a sign.

Brothers James H. and George Dewar started the business in 1909 as The Chocolate Shop on Chester Avenue. After a few moves, the family opened the Eye Street shop in 1930, adding homemade ice cream and soda fountain service. Plenty of years for Bakersfield locals to find a favorite scoop.

Dewar's
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Inside, the soda fountain counter keeps the old ice cream parlor feel going. Dewar's is also known for its peanut butter taffy chews, so there's something to take along after the ice cream is gone. Might be a good idea to finish the cone before reaching for the camera again.

UPDATE: Dewar's remains open, with more than a century of family history behind it. The Eye Street shop continues serving ice cream and candy, and its familiar neon lettering and cone survive. Still a tempting stop on a warm Bakersfield evening. 09-26