Holman’s is more than a place to enjoy a scoop, it brings together handcrafted tradition, local ingredients and the history of PEI.
At Holman’s Ice Cream, the ice cream is made on site in small batches using fresh PEI dairy and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
With more than 100 flavours in rotation and 16 typically available each day, choosing just one scoop can be the hardest part of your visit.
Past flavours have included tempting combinations such as:
Strawberry Cheesecake
Honeycomb
Cookies and Cream
Caramel Pecan Carrot Cake
Caramel Brownie Cheesecake
Ooey Gooey Buttercake
Pina Colada
Key Lime Pie
Dragon Fruit Sorbet
There are also lactose-free, lower-sugar and vegan sorbet options, making it easier for everyone to find something to enjoy. And the homemade touches don’t end with the ice cream.
Freshly baked waffle cones, house-made sauces, seasonal desserts and homemade waffles turn a simple ice cream stop into something worth lingering over.
Where Ice Cream Meets Summerside History
Part of what makes Holman’s Ice Cream so special is its setting.
The historic property has been part of Summerside’s story for generations. After the Holman family era, the building served a number of different purposes before eventually falling into disrepair.
Ken and Jenny Meister later purchased the property and undertook an extensive restoration, breathing new life into the historic building while helping preserve an important piece of Summerside heritage.
And somewhere along the way, ice cream became part of the story.
During the restoration, their daughter Sarah began experimenting with homemade ice cream recipes using a tabletop ice cream maker. Those early experiments would eventually help shape the much-loved Holman’s Ice Cream visitors enjoy today.
A Sweet Stop on Your Prince Edward Island Road Trip
There’s something particularly fitting about enjoying homemade ice cream inside a historic Island home.
Perhaps that’s why a visit to Holman’s feels like more than simply grabbing a cone.
It brings together so many of the things we love about Prince Edward Island: local flavours, beautiful heritage buildings, family run businesses and the kind of places you stumble upon while exploring and end up talking about long after your trip.
If you’re spending time in Summerside or travelling through western PEI, add Holman’s to your list.
Grab a scoop (or two), find your favourite flavour and take some time to enjoy the historic surroundings.
Preserving a Piece of Summerside History
The Holman Homestead's survival is a story in itself.
A heritage plaque on the building records its refurbishment by the Prince Edward Island Heritage Foundation in 1975, following a gift associated with Gladys Holman and financial support from heritage funds.
Over the years, the property took on several different lives. At various times it was used as the International Fox Museum, apartments, offices and a gift shop.
Eventually, however, the historic house once again faced an uncertain future.
In 2016, with the property facing demolition, the Meister family stepped in and began restoring the Homestead, preserving its historic character while giving the building a new purpose.
And that new chapter came with a particularly delicious addition: Holman's Ice Cream.
Today, the Homestead is once again somewhere people gather. Visitors come for handcrafted ice cream, wander through the historic gardens and can even stay upstairs in the property's heritage suites.
It's a wonderful example of historic preservation that doesn't leave a building frozen in time. Instead, the Homestead is being lived in and enjoyed again.
And perhaps that's what makes eating an ice cream here feel a little different.
Where Is Holman’s Ice Cream?
You’ll find Holman’s Ice Cream at 286 Fitzroy Street in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Whether you’re exploring Summerside for the day or including the city as part of a longer PEI road trip, it’s an easy and delicious addition to your itinerary.