What once was Yummies is now Lakeside Licks Ice Cream & Mini Golf. Route 299’s miniature golf standby has a new name, new owners and many more ice cream flavors. New owner John Marsh has cleaned up and repaired the mini-golf course. He added signs, flags and the wacky inflatable tube man out front to attract motorists. He also hopes to win over auto fans with car shows every Thursday and serious putt-putters with tournaments.
So far, he said the reception to the putt-putt course reopening has been pretty welcoming.
“It seems to be taking off,” Marsh said. “It seems like this is going to do pretty good.”
The mini-golf course, near the New York State Police Department, has been a staple on 299. But in recent years it wasn’t consistently maintained and had sporadic hours. Marsh, who drove by it a lot on his way to the Milton Lakeside Licks, said he jumped at the chance, when he saw the “for sale” sign go up.
“I mean, the place just needed a lot of cleaning,” he said.
John Marsh started Lakeside Licks up in the Adirondacks, in Speculator. The first ice cream shop catered to tourists. “I’d been a contractor for 35 years, and I wanted to do something different,” he explained. “I converted my garage into an ice cream stand.”
Since that humble beginning, he now runs four locations with his wife and college-aged daughters.
Lakeside Licks also has a location in Saugerties. They’re known for having an impressive 30 flavors of soft-serve ice cream.
Putt-putt costs $6 a game for adults, $5 for kids. Really young kids get in at a discounted rate. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
To learn more about Lakeside Licks in general, search for them on Facebook or call 845-742-7743. To reach the mini-golf course, call 845-691-7080 or stop in at 288 Route 299, in Highland.
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