Subscribe to Spirit Magazine

The campus Creamery (above) reopened in 1956 and moved locations a few times before closing in 1995. By the 1980s, it made and sold more than 300 gallons of ice cream per week using milk from Texas A&M’s dairy herd. From homemade ice cream to malts and milkshakes, former students shared sweet memories of the Creamery’s best treats.

Simply click to expand and view each response below.

Our next question will be: What's the nicest thing a fellow Aggie has ever done for you? Share your answer with our editor, Dunae Reader ’15, by clicking the button below or submitting a message at the bottom of this page.

Share a memorable Aggie act of kindness
 

David Applebaum ’80

It was one of those insufferably hot days, and I was walking from the Langford Architecture Building to the shuttle bus on the exact opposite side of campus. I took a shortcut and noticed more than a few people with smiles almost as large as the scoops of ice cream dripping down their cones. In my head, I heard the tunes of the ice cream trucks of my youth! I asked someone where they’d gotten such tremendous cones in the middle of nowhere. One sweet young lady walked me to the door of the Creamery.

I asked, “How is the chocolate? Or is the vanilla more decadent?” With a wink, this angel suggested I try the strawberry…and she scooped me what seemed a half gallon on a cone. It was like biting into a frozen juicy strawberry! I visited often after that with my friends. To this day, I have never had ice cream as good as the confections that were the Creamery ice creams.

David Applebaum ’80
Pacific Palisades, California

Laurie Jay ’82

My good friend Mary Michelle Hawver Ellis ’82 and I recently talked about how our friendship formed over trips to the Creamery back in 1979. Our favorite outings started at the Cow Hop for the best nachos ever, and then we’d head to the Creamery for chocolate malts. We were both in the theater program, and often, after finishing work in the scene shop building sets, we’d head to the Creamery to reward ourselves. Mary and I became lifelong friends; we think it may be because neither of us ever had any regrets about overindulging at the Creamery!

Laurie Jay ’82
McKinney, Texas

Hugh Ayles ’89

Roberta Neal (front) and Hazel Sweeney help customers at the counter of the Creamery.



I grew up in Ohio. Keep in mind this was before the internet. Somehow, my mom found out about the Creamery, and we had to go there when I first visited Texas A&M’s campus. That was some of the best ice cream. Dare I say, even better than Blue Bell?

Hugh Ayles ’89
Cedar Park, Texas

Eric Silber ’98

My dad, who worked in the Chemistry Building, would walk me over to get ice cream. We’d sit on the big lawn by the O&M Building and enjoy our cones.

Eric Silber ’98
Austin, Texas

Cal McNeill ’85

After the fall semester of my freshman year, I left the Corps of Cadets to walk on to the Texas A&M football team as Coach Jackie Sherrill was taking over the program. In the Corps, I had dropped weight to 182 pounds—not very good for a linebacker. I went by the Creamery almost every day for a chocolate shake or ice cream for 50 cents or something crazy cheap like that. It definitely helped me regain my playing weight, and it tasted so good doing it too!

Cal McNeill ’85
College Station, Texas

Barbara (Blair) Graham ’78

The vanilla ice cream was the best! I loved the aroma as you got close. You knew what was waiting!

Barbara (Blair) Graham ’78
Nolanville, Texas

LeAnn Wirey ’80

The Creamery is where I found the freshman 15! It was such easy access as a floriculture major to walk out the back door of the Plant Sciences Building and pick up that creamy chocolate malt as I headed to the shuttle bus stop.

LeAnn Wirey ’80
San Antonio, Texas

David Heath ’76

The Creamery was a favorite of basketball coach Shelby Metcalf and became a team favorite for travel days. I would call ahead and order about 16 milkshakes for us to pick up as we departed to Austin, Waco, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, etc. It was always a highlight of our travels and fostered a bit of team bonding!

David Heath ’76
Bryan, Texas

Linda Heinemann ’80

Tyler Nixon, 2, of College Station cools off with a milkshake from the creamery in 1983.

The ice cream was always a nice treat after classes. At least once a week, someone dropped a scoop on the sidewalk!

Linda Heinemann ’80
Houston, Texas

Laura Fulton ’85

As a freshman, I lived in Mosher Hall and walked every day to the Academic and Agency Building (now the John R. Blocker Building) for class. Stopping in the Creamery once a week was a real treat, especially on a warmer day. I loved the chocolate malts and convinced myself that the daily walking on campus burned all the calories!

Laura Fulton ’85
Houston, Texas

David Engelbretson ’83

Ahhh, the Creamery! It was a favorite pastime of mine to get a cone, sit under an oak tree with my friend, Susan (Blair) Candy ’83, and enjoy the respite from statistics class!

David Engelbretson ’83
College Station, Texas

Cynthia “Cindy” Brown ’82

Whenever I was sick with a cold, I walked from Spence Hall to the Creamery for a milkshake if I could. Best medicine there was!

Cynthia “Cindy” Brown ’82
Fredericksburg, Texas

James Wilson ’71

The Creamery was out of my way but well worth the detour. I loved their vanilla ice cream with its extremely high butterfat content. I’ve never had ice cream like that before or since.

James Wilson ’71
Longview, Texas

Kyle Fritsche ’87

As a home-grown Aggie raised in Bryan, my mother often brought me and my two brothers over to the Creamery for a sweet treat! We usually drove our 1969 baby blue Ford Country Squire station wagon with wood panels. This continued for many years and often included a trip to the airport to watch planes arrive and depart Aggieland while enjoying our cones.

Kyle Fritsche ’87
Longview, Texas

Bill Richardson ’69

Pre-med sophmore Larry Ganz ’84, of Houston, takes advantage of the 1982 early spring weather as he props himself up on his motorcycle in front of the Creamery to eat an ice cream cone.

The Creamery was a real treat. I would go over there and get a chocolate malt. After four years of Sbisa and Duncan dining halls, most things out of the ordinary were a real treat, but this was the best.

Bill Richardson ’69
San Marcos, Texas

Edward Grant ’70

The butter pecan ice cream was to die for! The air-conditioned building was also a plus in the spring and summer.

Edward Grant ’70
Charlotte, North Carolina

Henry Luddeke ’69

As a Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band member, I remember walking from class on hot autumn days and stopping by the Creamery to get a large cone. It made the long drill practices more bearable and gave me the energy to do my best!

Henry Luddeke ’69
Cuero, Texas

James Hopper ’68

On my way to class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I would stop at the Creamery for the best 5-cent ice cream cone in the world. It was something to look forward to each week!

James Hopper ’68
Dallas, Texas

James Pritchett ’73

In summer 1972, two other friends and I attended the first session of summer school. We had different classes, but we always met up around 11 a.m. outside Evans Library and walked over to the Creamery. A cold cone was a daily treat that summer semester. So delicious!

James Pritchett ’73
Austin, Texas

Leslie Lenser ’87

John Mullins ’80, senior aerospace engineering major from Houston, gulps down two chocolate ice cream cones at the Creamery as the last days of summer weather approach in 1979.

The original Creamery, located near today’s Commons residence halls, was in the perfect location on the way “home” to Mosher Hall! It was too easy to pop in and grab a shake or a cone to help kick-start the evening’s study.

Leslie Lenser ’87
Plano, Texas

Sarah Fenwick ’90

I loved the butter pecan and French silk ice cream. It was the best I ever tasted! I frequently made excuses to be on that side of campus since I had no classes nearby.

Sarah Fenwick ’90
Lewisville, Texas

Richard Fitzhugh ’70

There was nothing better on a hot day than grabbing an ice cream cone before racing to the next class. An oasis!

Richard Fitzhugh ’70
Fairhope, Alabama

Harmon Taylor ’84

The Creamery was directly en route between The Commons (Aston Hall, in particular) and the Zachry Engineering Building. It was a weekly splurge to get the vanilla shakes.

Harmon Taylor ’84
Howe, Texas

Anastasia Malvansos ’75

What fabulous ice cream malts and other ice creams the Creamery had. Best around! Those were the good ol’ days.

Anastasia Malvansos ’75
Houston, Texas

Michael Nowotny ’76

Humans aren't the only ones trying to beat the heat. Orin Clark and his dogs, Barney, Brutus Davis, King Arthur and Sir Woodrow, enjoy ice cream at the Creamery in 1984.

There was nothing better on a hot day than stopping in the old Creamery and getting a chocolate malt on my way to my next class.

Michael Nowotny ’76
Sealy, Texas

Mary (Spivey) Hovden ’78

On a hot and humid day while attending summer school, there was nothing better than enjoying an ice cream cone from the old Creamery!

Mary (Spivey) Hovden ’78
Mesa, Arizona

Lynn Lyons Foglesong ’86

We remember going to the Creamery on campus after class on spring days to get either vanilla or strawberry ice cream cones. It was beautiful outside, and it was an affordable, yummy snack! The Creamery was on campus near the Commons. Super convenient!

Lynn Lyons Foglesong ’86
Houston, Texas

Justin Turner ’87

It was great getting out of class and going to the Creamery with my then-girlfriend and eventually my wife after graduation!

Justin Turner ’87
Austin, Texas

Heidi Doe ’96

The best milkshakes I have ever had!

Heidi Doe ’96
Fulshear, Texas

Alan Gurevich ’73

Michelle Touchet ’89, a junior political science major from Austin, tries to finish her ice cream cone in a race against the summer heat outside the Texas A&M Creamery in 1987.

It wasn’t until I was at least a junior in the Aggie Band that I found the Creamery. Even having grown up on Long Island, New York, where summers can be hot and humid, I was ill prepared for the East Texas version of summer, which is more comparable to a steam bath or sauna. So, when I found the Creamery, it became a “required” stop on my way back to the Quad from classes in either the Bright Building or the now-demolished Zachry Engineering Building. What a relief it was to enter the air-conditioned Creamery and order ice cream!

Alan Gurevich ’73
Seattle, Washington

Johna (Grohn) Clark ’75

Great chocolate milkshakes!

Johna (Grohn) Clark ’75
Fredericksburg, Texas

Mark Browning ’88

The student government group I worked with had an office in The Pavilion next to the Creamery. It was so convenient to walk by and grab an afternoon ice cream on the way to the shuttle bus to my off-campus apartment!

Mark Browning ’88
College Station, Texas

Claude Roberts ’83

The Creamery was right across the street from my dorm. I attended summer school for two years, and it was a frequent stop on a hot day after classes in the afternoon each summer. We took so many unique things for granted at Texas A&M. It’s sad that it’s no longer there.

Claude Roberts ’83
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Scott Sharples ’97

It was delicious ice cream! And you had to walk so far to get it that it was even better!

Scott Sharples ’97
Phoenix, Arizona

William Hohl ’87

When the Creamery was located near the Commons, I rode my bike straight from Zachry to the dorm, stopping along the way to get ice cream. They had the best chocolate ice cream anywhere. Once they moved across the tracks, it made the ride longer, but still well worth the effort!

William Hohl ’87
Cameron, Texas

Robert Cohen ’65

There is nothing like an ice cream cone from the Creamery to cool someone off on a hot day. Willy Lambright, of Kingwood, takes a bite out of his cone as he leaves the Creamery in 1982.

Most of my classes occurred across the street from the old Creamery, so it was convenient to drop by for a midday pick-me-up. Regardless of the flavor, the ice cream was always very good.

Robert Cohen ’65
Wellborn, Texas

Susan McKee ’83

As I lived in the Commons and trotted down to Zachry at least twice a day, picking up a chocolate malt on the way to or from was a welcome relief on a hot day!

Susan McKee ’83
Richmond, Texas

Kenneth Bush ’63

The Creamery was great. I frequently got an ice cream cone for a nickel as I walked back to the dorm from class.

Kenneth Bush ’63
Katy, Texas

Tim Teykl ’78

During my undergrad years in Aggieland, I resided all four years on campus— first in Cain Hall, then in Milner Hall and finally as undergraduate hall director in Leggett Hall for my last two years. It was a short walk from Milner or Legget to the Cremaery. After gathering the change my grandmother mailed me or dipping into my pickle jar for funds I earned from sweeping G. Rollie White Coliseum after home basketball games, I'd scarf down a fresh homemade malt, usually chocolate or vanilla. I consumed it so fast, I'd usually get a brain freeze! What a delightful treat.

Tim Teykl ’78
Alvin, Texas

Robert Luedecke ’79

When I was in medical school at Texas A&M, the Creamery was right around the corner, and I visited it regularly for comfort food that I could afford.

Robert Luedecke ’79
Helotes, Texas

Janet Booth ’84

When I picked up my Aggie Ring, I stepped next door and celebrated with ice cream. What a special day!

Janet Booth ’84
Tyler, Texas

David Kennedy '80

During my junior year as an animal science major, I remember at the last session in our meats lab that we would take cattle skins across the street to the old arena, where we would salt them done under the seats for future tanning use. The day that I was dragging several skins across the street, I saw a mother, father and daughter obviously visiting campus and sitting in front of the Creamery enjoying some of its great tasting ice cream. I spoke up to them with a big “Howdy, Welcome to Aggieland!” These folks must have lost their appetite, for when I passed back by the bench, I noticed all three barely eaten cones in the trash can. I hope the young girl still planned on coming to Texas A&M, but I doubt she was an ag major?  

David Kennedy ’80
Carthage, Texas

Melvin Maltz '47

I have a beautiful memory of the Creamery from June 1,1943. That is when I became Fish Maltz. It was that day I was introduced to the old Creamery. Not pleasantly, however. After an hour of physical training from Dr. Penberthy, he asked if anyone could not swim. Being a smart Fish, I didn’t raise my hand. He asked the swimmers to remain in the PL Downs Natatorium. Non swimmers were to remain in the cool pool area. I and other dumb Fish were introduced to the dirt road on the west side of the railroad tracks to run the 1.6 miles road around cattle yard and Creamery. That became a routine that lasted from June 1943-June 1945. I was in great shape when inducted into the USA Air Corps, making Basic Training a breeze. Of course, it was despised at the time, but it provides good memories today. For an A in physical training, you had to get a running time under 13 minutes. It sounds slow but believe me the temperatures in June 1943 were no cooler than today. Unlike today, our dorm was not air conditioned and the midnight owl train from Houston was heard only once daily at about 4am. That was just some of many fun days on our journey to becoming Aggies in body and spirit.

Melvin Maltz ’47
Houston, Texas

Buddy Holick

I remember the Creamery being across the railroad tracks from the College Station train depot in the 1950s. The ice cream was packaged in cartons, maybe pint size. It was the best ice cream I ever tasted!

Buddy Holick
College Station, Texas

Terry Cole '84

While I loved the Creamery, I had no extra funds to spend even on ice cream. If it wasn't on the board plan, I didn't eat it. Lol! However, I discovered that they made cheese. I got to go home once a semester because I was from the Panhandle, and I would stop by and order cheese boules or whatever they called them to take home for Thanksgiving to my mom and dad and friends. I remember cheddar and swiss. It was so inexpensive and so good. And at the time seems so magical that you could make cheese from scratch, lol!

Terry Cole ’84
Austin, Texas

Contact
  • Dunae Reader '15

  • Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications/Spirit Editor/Maroon Co-Editor
  • Call: 979.321.6343

Make Your Impact

Give Now