The Creamery Experience
Visiting the farm store is a must. There are lots of gifts and novelties, and of course the main event… Coolers lined with glass-bottled milk in classic and unexpected flavors — chocolate, root beer, orange cream, and pumpkin spice latte among them. Shelves feature butter, yogurt, cheese curds, and ice cream, all made from milk produced just a few steps away in the Martin family’s dairy barn.
Staff members are friendly and knowledgeable, eager to explain the farm’s production process or share samples of their latest creations. You can even peek through viewing windows that showcase the creamery’s bottling and pasteurization equipment for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how local milk goes from cow to cup.
Sustainable and Local by Design
Sustainability plays a central role at Crystal Springs. Every glass bottle is returnable and reused, cutting down on waste and keeping costs low. The milk comes from about 300 Holstein cows that live right on the property, ensuring that the farm controls every step of production.
The creamery also sources complementary products from nearby producers — local honey, maple syrup, baked goods, and handmade gifts fill the shelves — turning the small shop into a hub for northern Indiana’s local food community.
The Taste Test
Of course, no visit would be complete without sampling the goods. The Ash Road Pothole ice cream – named for the famously bumpy road leading to the creamery — is a customer favorite. It’s a playful flavor loaded with chocolate chunks and caramel swirls, perfectly fitting for a country detour.
The cheese curds deliver that signature “squeak” when you bite into them, and the flavored milks offer a nostalgic twist. The root beer milk, in particular, tastes like a float poured straight from the bottle. My all-time favorite is their cold brew coffee milk. It’s perfect with my morning bagel.
Why It’s Worth the Drive
In an era when most dairy products travel hundreds of miles before reaching store shelves, Crystal Springs Creamery stands out for doing everything exceptionally well in-house. It’s a model rooted in transparency, quality, and family pride.
The Martins’ approach has resonated across northern Indiana, drawing both locals and travelers who crave authenticity in what they eat. Whether you stop in for an ice cream cone on a summer drive or pick up a few bottles of milk for the week, you’re supporting a farm that’s as genuine as the land it sits on.
As you leave the property and see the silos and a few cows wander toward the barn, it’s hard not to feel a sense of appreciation… not just for the dairy’s products, but for the families who keep these rural traditions alive.
