Turkey Hill Experience

The borough of Columbia is located on the ancestral home of the Susquehannok people.

Four-story brick factory building with a large green sign that reads "Turkey Hill Experience"

Date of Visit: November 29, 2024

If you’ve ever lived in or visited central Pennsylvania, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Turkey Hill. Maybe you’ve filled up at a Turkey Hill convenience store, or maybe you’ve sipped on a pint of Turkey Hill iced tea, or maybe you’ve indulged in one of their premium ice creams.

And if you’ve looked closely on the bottle or carton, you might have noticed the tagline “imported from Lancaster County.”

holly wreaths adorn a second-floor railing in a factory-like room at the Turkey Hill Experience

Turkey Hill, the company, takes its name from Turkey Hill, a small mount in southwestern Lancaster County where the dairy operation is based. The company may not offer factory tours, but you can get a fun peek behind the scenes at the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia.

The large brick building was originally built as a silk mill, but in 2011, it was transformed into the attraction celebrating Lancaster County’s largest dairy and drink producer.

A young boy in a winter coat stands next to a two-story tall statue of a cow wearing a red and white Santa hat and red scarf

As we approach the front door, we are greeted by a two-story tall cow, decked out in a hat and scarf for the holiday season. After checking in with our timed tickets at the front desk, we headed up the elevator.

The attraction begins with an exhibit of Turkey Hill’s history, including an antique milk truck and a display case filled with memorabilia that included old glass bottles and historic packaging for the brand’s ice cream.

A young boy looks at a computer screen showing large mixing vats

Throughout the Turkey Hill Experience, guests can be part of the action thanks to interactive displays that make you part of the process. Our first stop let us “create” our own ice cream by using a touchscreen to choose our flavor and start churning.

a young boy wearing a winter coat turns over a bucket that has thwe word "cherry" on it over a table with a digital screen.

A nearby stand gave us the opportunity to add the mix-ins as the kids took turns “dumping” buckets of cherry, mint and other flavors to watch as the virtual ice cream turned shades of red and green.

Next, it was off to the marketing department where we designed our own packaging, picking a name and decoration for the half-gallon cartons.

A hand reaches in to scoop blue ice cream from a freezer while a young boy looks on

Of course, there is more than virtual ice cream at the Turkey Hill Experience. There’s also a free scoop waiting at the end. And while it won’t be the flavor you invented, there are more than a dozen delicious options to choose from.

Turkey Hill is more than ice cream, though, and I had just as much fun taste testing all the iced teas and drinks.

a young boy points to a computer screen to choose his favorite pet

There’s also a quiz that helps identify what drink is right for you. It’s actually surprisingly accurate, pegging me as a boring, unsweetened iced tea kind of guy while my seven-year-old got a more adventurous fruit punch.

A small child looks at a play ice cream set with plastic scoops in yellow and green

A small play area in the attraction was also a hit with the kids. It included a tube slide, a spinner where you learned how to blend milk, and a kid-sized ice cream parlor complete with toy scoops and fake ice cream for dipping.

Another fun activity is the opportunity to shoot your own commercial. On a previous visit many years ago, I interviewed a cow. I was unknowingly wearing a green sweater against the green screen. It’s so silly, but also so much fun.

The Turkey Hill Experience also offers two add-ons. The first is the Taste Lab where you learn to really create your own ice cream using your choice of flavors and “inclusions,” the technical term for the fruits, candies, and other treats available to mix into your ice cream.

For tea fans, there is also the Tea Discovery which gives the opportunity to learn about – and taste – teas from around the world.

Large gift shop with a digital screen and a fiberglass cow above a doorway

It’s not the largest attraction around, and the main floor can be done in an hour on less busy days, but it’s still worth a visit for families that share a sweet tooth.

Turkey Hill Experience
301 Linden Street
Columbia, PA 17512

When You Go

Hours of operation vary by day with very short opening times during the week and longer operating hours on weekends.
Plan to spend 1-2 hours at the attraction, longer if you are purchasing the Taste Lab and Tea Discovery.
Most of the attraction is geared toward children age preschool through elementary. For teens and adults, I would strongly recommend the add-on packages to make it worth the visit.
In the warmer months, you can ride on the nearby Northwest Lancaster River Trail. Start your journey at the Columbia Crossings Trail Center and journey north to White Cliffs of Conoy for unmatched views of the Susquehanna River.
Columbia’s downtown has some excellent dining options, including the retro-styled Griddles Malt Shoppe and the chic Prince Street Coffee. The John Wright Restaurant, located across the river in Wrightsville, is another great option.