Guide to the Grand Strand

A new ice cream shop opened in Huntington Beach State Park. Here’s what they serve

Spoonbills Ice Cream, named for the rosette spoonbills that frequent the marsh, opened at Huntington Beach State Park. The ice cream shop is located at the South beach access of the park. July 3, 2023. July 3, 2023.
Spoonbills Ice Cream, named for the rosette spoonbills that frequent the marsh, opened at Huntington Beach State Park. The ice cream shop is located at the South beach access of the park. July 3, 2023. July 3, 2023. jlee@thesunnews.com

Whether you are taking your dog for a walk or enjoying the waves at Huntington Beach State Park, you can now count on some ice cream to cope with the sweltering summer sun.

Spoonbill’s Ice Cream opened its doors July 1, and its daily hours are noon to 7 p.m.

Named after the Roseate Spoonbill, a pink bird traditionally summered in the park, the location offers refreshments from Wholly Cow Ice Cream based in Charleston, South Carolina. Popular flavors include Charleston Sea Turtle, a salt caramel ice cream covered in chocolate-shaped sea turtles, Southern Praline butter pecan and many more.

“There’s nothing cooler on a hot day than a delicious bite of ice cream,” Retail Sales Manager at the park Paul Bourne said.

Spoonbills Ice Cream, named for the rosette spoonbills that frequent the marsh, opened at Huntington Beach State Park. The ice cream shop is located at the South beach access of the park. July 3, 2023. July 3, 2023.
Spoonbills Ice Cream, named for the rosette spoonbills that frequent the marsh, opened at Huntington Beach State Park. The ice cream shop is located at the South beach access of the park. July 3, 2023. July 3, 2023. JASON LEE jlee@thesunnews.com

Huntington Beach State Park has received good feedback from customers so far, Bourne added, and Spoonbill’s will be serving ice cream during the Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival in September and the kite festival in March 2024. More specials are being planned for the future, he said.

The new ice cream establishment culminated in a long-term project to restore one of the park’s properties. Spoonbill’s was previously a closed concession stand, and Huntington Beach wanted to add an ice cream stand to replace it.

The park staff completely renovated the building Spoonbill’s now calls home, Bourne said.

“We were looking to rejuvenate that building,” Bourne added. “The idea has been going for a while to open something up to give people a treat.”

The building had also housed the Nature Center after it burned down and before the new one opened in 2020.

Spoonbill’s is located next to the Huntington Beach State Park gift shop.

Ben Morse
The Sun News
Ben Morse is the Retail and Leisure Reporter for The Sun News. Morse covers local business and Coastal Carolina University football and was awarded third place in the 2023 South Carolina Press Association News Contest for sports beat reporting and second place for sports video in the all-daily division. Morse previously worked for The Island Packet, covering local government. Morse graduated from American University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and economics and is originally from Prospect, Kentucky.
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