[strumming acoustic guitar] - Angela Fitzgerald: This Dutch-style windmill is an icon of pop culture in the Northwoods.
– Pat Berg: It is a landmark for sure.
The history of the building is fantastic.
We hear a lot of stories.
– Russell Berg: It was part of Phil's Resort on Lake Nokomis.
The building goes back to 1939, and it was originally built as a Sinclair gas station.
- Russell Berg is the family historian.
– Russell: Over the years, it's been a candy shop.
There was an information booth, and sometime in the mid to late 70s, it became an ice cream shop, and it has been ever since.
- The Berg family built its own history with the Windmill and can serve up stories and ice cream all in one scoop.
– Russell: In 1993, my parents bought it, Pat and Charlie Berg.
Mom was getting close to retirement as a fourth-grade teacher down in Athens, Wisconsin.
– Pat Berg: And I said going past here, "Someday, we're going to own this."
Never giving it another thought at all.
Can I help you, sir?
[twangy country guitar] Pat: When we bought it, I said, "We're buying it for the kids and for the young at heart."
Oh, here comes the kids.
[fun, swinging jazz] - Ice cream is what put this tourist attraction on the map.
[bouncy jazz] - Russ: We like to think we're at the intersection of Wisconsin's dairy industry and tourism industry, offering the best of what the state of Wisconsin has to offer.
– Customer: Thank you so much.
- For more than 32 years, the Bergs have hand-scooped, served, and created smiles.
– Rodney Berg: The biggest surprise for me was just how happy it makes people feel.
No one ever comes into an ice cream shop crying.
– Pat: Hello, come on in.
Don't be shy.
And I love when they come in as a family, and all the kids are smiling and looking already what they're going to order.
– Child: I'm going to, ahh... - Adult: Okay.
– Pat: Even the little babies, I always say, "Oh, Baby came for a treat."
– Russ Berg: It's become a tradition.
People reminiscing to where their grandparents brought 'em, and now they're bringing their kids or their grandkids.
[lively swing music] - Mother: All right, guys.
Smile!
- So fun!
- For several generations, the Windmill has also become a Berg family tradition.
– Rodney: Spending 30 years working alongside my mom, seeing how it grew throughout all those years.
– Pat: Two scoops on that?
Chocolate on top, hot fudge.
– Rodney: And then, as I got married and had children, when they got old enough, I was working alongside them, too.
– Meagan Berg: I grew up here, so it's a special place for me.
Meagan: When I was really little, I would come and help clean up in the morning.
And then, when I was old enough, I started scooping ice cream.
I got to hang out with her and I became super close with her.
Just watching her own her business inspired me to just follow my dreams.
– Customer: I'm gonna get a single scoop in a bowl.
- I have very good grandchildren, and they're very helpful, and they're very good.
They learn fast.
– Angela: With more than 100 flavors in rotation, there's always a favorite in store.
– Russ: You always have to have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.
– Teen: Here's strawberry.
– Russ: Okay, we have a blueberry cheesecake to go in next, along with bubble gum and cake and ice cream.
Okay?
– Pat: Yep.
- Flavor after flavor, year after year, the Windmill made a name for itself.
– Child: Yay!
– Adult: The birthday cake.
- If it's a holiday, it's lines out the door all day long.
[sentimental acoustic] July 4th is our Super Bowl week or weekend.
It's the biggest holiday here in the Northwoods.
– Pat: Oh, we're gonna need a new one.
– Russ: There are times where we will go through 70 to 80 tubs of ice cream.
– Meagan: You get to see all these people coming in on boats, [boat blows horn] you know, enjoying their summer.
– Family in unison: Bye!
– Meagan: You get to see people, you know, connect with one another and have a smile on their face.
– Pat: Sometimes, I think, "Wow, this is fabulous!
"The lines of people that come and good people, nice people."
- You want the chocolate one, or do you want the one with chocolate chunks?
- I love the Windmill, and I always did.
- Place...
I have so many memories here, like countless.
[laughs] So, it's just a special place for me.
A million funny stories.
– Charlie: It's kind of humbling to have so many people come and love and comment on their experiences here.
The biggest compliment we can get is when a family says, "We'll be back tomorrow."
[acoustic guitar riff]
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