Connecticut has a legacy of ice cream.

The state’s rich history of dairy farming dates back to when the Connecticut Colony was founded in the 1630s, according to Connecticut Post, as European settlers brought cows to their new home. Many farms were passed down through local families through several generations, producing milk, cheese, butter and eventually, ice cream.

But which was the first to sell ice cream? With roots going back to the 1800s, Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream stands as Connecticut’s oldest ice cream shop at over 200 years old.

Here’s the ice cream shop’s story, as well as how to get a sweet treat there this summer.

History of Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream

Located in historic downtown Mystic, Mystic Drawbridge dates back to the 1800s, when Randall Brown Jr. served homemade ice cream from the very same store, according to the ice cream shop’s website. In the early 1900s, Ebenezer Morgan took over the store, continuing to serve ice cream in what he called The Riverside Ice Cream Garden.

The ice cream shop was eventually passed to John Koulbanis in the mid-20th century, and eventually, to the owners of the shop today. Throughout its various changes in name and owner, Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream has stuck to its tradition of serving Mystic homemade ice cream made of the finest local ingredients.

Today, the shop serves various creative smoothies, frappes and sundaes in addition to Drawbridge original flavors, including Mystic Mud and Seaport Salty swirl.

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How to get ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge

Want to try a scoop from Connecticut’s oldest ice cream shop? Mystic Drawbridge is open daily year round at 2 W. Main St. in Mystic. Current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.