Stops We Like: The Hickory Stick
(2021) Somewhere in the small hamlets between northern Bucks County and Montgomery County is a beacon to salvage a sweltering ride. With long summer rides comes the need to cool off. Sometimes it is mid-ride. Other times it’s bonk prevention. But our visit to The Hickory Stick highlighted a bit more.
At the intersection of 113 and Telegraph Road, just outside of Perkasie, PA, is an old brick schoolhouse and an overflowing parking lot. For years we had ridden past it. Sometimes we were in a rush. Other times we passed it too soon, but today was perfect. Heat, humidity, and rubbery legs lent itself to stop at this ice cream oasis amidst farm fields and suburban sprawl. Prepare for revitalization.
Walking into the old school and one is greeted by the most incredible interior. At the back wall where teachers once stood in front of blackboards is the ice cream counter. Along the windows overlooking 113, no doubt where students daydreamed of summer days, are more options. Here is where Backyard Beans Punch in the Face is on nitro! In the refrigerator near the door are seasonal cold brew cans also by Backyard Beans. Should you make it beyond these two distractions, and past the chalk board featuring dozens of specialty items, one arrives at the glass counter. The “uh-ah dance begins” where overstimulation embarrasses us all.
The real reason we stopped is the reputation that The Hickory Stick’s soft serve has the highest butter fat content of any ice cream slinger around. We went for the butter fat to cool our jets and it was just what was needed today. A small cup is heavy on the scale and smooth in the mouth. The summer heat melts away faster than the ice cream. The umbrella-tables outside or the porch benches make this a comfortable place to be. The excited kids bring a smile to our face.
What will definitely happen on the next trip is an affogato, an Italian treat of gelati and espresso mixed together, though our attempt may feature nitro coffee and that soft serve. Consider it a combination cooling effort as well as a caffeine jolt in one serving. Having The Hickory Stick around ten miles from our office means this outpost can provide salvation before returning to a hot ride home.
With many specialty ice cream stops in northern Bucks - and Montgomery - County, the cream has risen to the top at this cozy little schoolhouse conveniently accessed by an old farm road. Before leaving I had to imagine the look on a student’s face from former times if the class were told their schoolhouse would eventually be an ice cream stop in the future. Maybe going to school in the summer wouldn’t be so bad after all.
