This Iconic Indiana Dairy Bar Serves Some Of The Tallest Ice Cream Cones Around

Some places just stick with you long after you leave. A longtime dairy bar in Livonia, Indiana is exactly that kind of spot.

Since the mid-1970s, this small-town favorite has been serving towering soft-serve cones alongside hearty diner classics that keep people coming back season after season.

The menu is packed with familiar comfort food, generous portions, and frozen treats that have become a tradition for generations of local families.

Its friendly atmosphere and nostalgic charm make every visit feel like a step back to a simpler time, where great food and good company are all you really need.

Whether you are stopping by after a day on the road or making a special trip just for dessert, this beloved Washington County destination is well worth the drive.

Here are seven reasons why it deserves a place on your must-visit list.

Come for the Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Indiana takes its breaded pork tenderloin seriously, and Little Twirl Dairy Bar does not disappoint. The hand-breaded tenderloin here has earned a loyal following over the years, with its crispy golden coating and generous size making it a standout on the menu.

It is the kind of sandwich that reminds you why simple, well-made food never goes out of style.

The new ownership team that took over in April 2026 made a point of sourcing the pork locally through Sander Processing, which means the quality behind each sandwich is something the kitchen takes real pride in. Hand-breading each piece takes time and effort, and you can taste that care in every bite.

The tenderloin extends well beyond the bun, which is a hallmark of a proper Indiana-style version.

Pair it with a side of crispy fries or the crowd-favorite tator squares for a full meal that hits all the right notes. The portion sizes at Little Twirl are consistently generous, so arriving hungry is a smart move.

This is not fast food dressed up to look homemade. The ingredients are real, the preparation is hands-on, and the result speaks for itself.

For anyone who considers themselves a tenderloin enthusiast traveling through Southern Indiana, skipping this sandwich would be a genuine missed opportunity worth regretting on the drive home.

Try the Hand-Spun Milkshakes Here

There is a reason the milkshakes at Little Twirl Dairy Bar keep showing up in conversations about the best in the area. Hand-spun and made with real ice cream, these shakes have a thickness and richness that sets them apart from the standard fast-food version.

The peanut butter banana combination has developed something of a cult following among regulars.

Beyond the classics, the menu also features creative shake options that give you something a little unexpected. The frappuccino-style shake has surprised more than a few first-timers who did not expect that kind of variety from a small-town dairy bar.

Each shake is made to order, which means the wait is worth it and the result is consistent every time.

The new ownership has also introduced Twisters, a Blizzard-style dessert that mixes ice cream with your choice of mix-ins, giving you even more frozen treat options to explore.

With expanded hand-dipped ice cream selections and dirty sodas also now on the menu, the dessert lineup at Little Twirl has grown into something genuinely exciting.

Whether you lean toward fruity, nutty, or chocolatey flavors, there is a shake or frozen treat here that will match your mood. Bring cash and an appetite, because one is never quite enough once you see what is available.

Plan a Stop at This 1975 Landmark

Howard Strother opened Little Twirl Dairy Bar back in 1975 as a simple walk-up window serving soft-serve ice cream to the people of Livonia, Indiana. What started as a modest roadside treat stop has grown into a multi-generational gathering place that holds real meaning for the community around it.

The history here is not just a marketing angle. It is woven into the walls.

In 1980, owner Connie Benson added a dining room and an outdoor shelter house, giving the spot a more complete identity as a true neighborhood hangout.

Framed photos and old newspaper clippings line the dining room walls, giving visitors a genuine sense of the town’s story and how the dairy bar fits into it.

Sitting in that dining room feels like flipping through a local history book.

The building sits right on Main Street in Livonia, a small Washington County community in Southern Indiana with around 2,600 vehicles passing through daily. That steady traffic has kept Little Twirl visible and relevant for five decades.

The most recent ownership change in April 2026 brought in a family team committed to honoring that history while carefully refreshing the menu. Knowing that a place has survived and thrived for fifty years adds something extra to every visit.

Some landmarks earn their status through sheer staying power, and this one has done exactly that.

You Have to See That Big Twirl Cone

Forget every ice cream cone you have ever seen before. The Big Twirl at Little Twirl Dairy Bar is a legitimate spectacle, stacking 13 ounces of creamy soft-serve ice cream into a single towering cone that people genuinely stop and stare at.

It is widely considered one of the biggest soft-serve cones in all of Indiana, and one look at it will tell you why.

The soft-serve swirl has a smooth, balanced flavor that is refreshing without being overly sweet. It holds together surprisingly well, giving you enough time to actually enjoy it before things get messy.

The portion size alone makes it worth the trip, especially when you consider how reasonably priced it is compared to what you get.

Located at 58 W Main St, Livonia, IN 47108, the dairy bar has been serving this signature cone since its early days under founder Howard Strother. The Big Twirl has become something of a local legend in Washington County, drawing curious visitors from surrounding towns just to see it in person.

First-timers often pull out their phones the second the cone is handed over. It is one of those rare food moments that actually lives up to the hype.

If you are making the trip, ordering the Big Twirl is simply non-negotiable.

Make Room for the Banana Split

Banana splits have a way of making everything feel a little more celebratory, and the version at Little Twirl Dairy Bar leans fully into that spirit. The portion is substantial, arriving in a long dish piled with ice cream, fresh banana, toppings, and whipped cream in a way that makes it hard not to smile.

It is the kind of dessert that looks almost too good to eat, but you will manage.

The split has been a menu staple for years, and it remains one of the most ordered items during peak season. It works just as well as a solo treat after a meal as it does something to share with a friend or a kid who cannot decide what they want.

The balance of flavors across the dish keeps each bite interesting from start to finish.

Little Twirl is open seasonally, running Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from noon to 7 PM, with ongoing discussions about potentially extending the season. Getting there before closing time is key, since the kitchen stops taking food orders at 6:30 PM.

Arriving with enough time to sit, eat a proper meal, and finish with a banana split is the ideal way to experience everything the dairy bar has to offer. It is a full afternoon well spent in Southern Indiana.

Skip the Chain and Eat Local Here

There is something genuinely different about eating at a place where the owners are invested in every plate that goes out. Since April 2026, Little Twirl Dairy Bar has been run by a family team including sisters Dana Brewer, Jessica Allen, and Tiffany Brewer, along with their stepfather John Browning.

Their goal from day one has been to preserve what made the dairy bar special while bringing in fresher, locally sourced ingredients.

Beef for the burgers comes from Roberts Farms, and the pork for the hand-breaded tenderloins is sourced through Sander Processing. Choosing local suppliers is a deliberate decision that reflects a broader commitment to quality and community.

When you eat here, your meal connects back to Indiana farms and local producers in a way that a chain restaurant simply cannot replicate.

The atmosphere inside matches that community-first approach. The dining room is simple and unpretentious, with framed photos and clippings on the walls that tell the story of Livonia and the people who have kept this place running for decades.

There is plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, making it comfortable for families, solo visitors, and groups of any size. Motorcyclists and Jeep enthusiasts have also made Little Twirl a regular stop on their routes through Southern Indiana.

The welcoming energy here is the kind that only comes from a place that genuinely cares about who walks through the door.

Do Not Miss the Burgers and Sliders

The burgers and sliders at Little Twirl Dairy Bar have quietly built up a fan base that rivals the ice cream crowd. The double slider with bacon has become a standout order, arriving larger than most people expect and packed with flavor that holds up well against the more famous frozen treats on the menu.

Paired with hot, crispy fries, it makes for a genuinely satisfying meal.

The beef used in the burgers is sourced locally from Roberts Farms, which gives each patty a freshness and quality that you can actually taste. That kind of sourcing decision reflects the new ownership’s commitment to doing things the right way rather than just the easy way.

A good burger made from quality local beef hits differently than one assembled from frozen patties.

What makes the food side of Little Twirl work so well is the balance between classic diner simplicity and real ingredient quality. Nothing on the menu is trying too hard or overloaded with unnecessary extras.

The sliders are built to be eaten and enjoyed, not just photographed. For visitors who might assume a dairy bar is just about dessert, the savory menu is a genuine surprise worth exploring.

Come hungry, order a double slider basket, and save just enough room for whatever frozen treat catches your eye on the way out. That is the Little Twirl experience done right.