Popular Warwick ice cream spot updating its digs

Bellvale Farms Creamery in Warwick undergoes renovations Thursday. The 16-foot silo will house a giant freezer. Photo by Robert G. Breese for the Times Herald Record.

There are eight weeks to go until spring, and when Bellvale Farms Creamery on Route 17A opens for the season, ice cream lovers will get a special treat, besides the return of their favorite homemade flavors.

Since Thanksgiving, a crew from Eden Restoration in Warwick has been busy adding new serving and seating areas at the popular ice cream shop, while keeping the same, farm-style look.

“We’re going to make it look like nobody’s worked on it,” said Michael Forman, president of Eden Restoration.

Bellvale Farms, which opened in 2003 at 1390 Route 17A, has become so popular that lines often stretch out the door on weekends. Besides the ice cream, customers can enjoy a stunning view of the Warwick Valley. The shop is only about 50 yards from the Appalachian Trailhead, and it’s a favorite stop for hikers.

Mix in the fact that the creamery came in at No. 2 on a recent TripAdvisor survey listing the 10 best ice cream shops in America, and that explains why the lines are so long.

Forman said some alterations are designed to help the owners, Amy and Tim Noteboom, “get people in and out the door faster.” Forman said they’re adding counter space and stools, plus more outdoor seating, so more folks can enjoy the view.

One addition will stand out: a 16-foot-tall silo. It’s actually built to house a giant freezer.

“Amy (Noteboom) wanted to keep that farm look, so we came up with a creative way to include a freezer without sticking a box on the side of the building,” Forman said.

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