This PA attraction ‘in the middle of nowhere’ has 36-hole mini-golf, ice cream and more
“If you think you are lost and on the wrong road, you are most probably on the right road” — so says the website for Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy and its two mini-golf courses.
This eclectic hidden gem in Walker Township, Schuylkill County, is unlike any spot in the state. Not only does it boast its own creamery — with large hot fudge sundaes and banana splits that cost under $6 — but it also has 36 holes of mini-golf, a driving range, a small arcade, a gift shop and a take-out restaurant, where soft pretzels cost a dollar and every item is under $7.
It’s also, as the owners openly admit, in the “middle of nowhere,” and it’s virtually impossible to find if you’re not looking for it. Nestled between farms and forests, it is mini-golf’s answer to baseball’s “Field of Dreams.”
Blame the founder, Morris Heisler, who wouldn’t be talked out of his vision. He started as a small milk producer in 1924 and opted to expand in the same spot, in 1957, by making ice cream and building a dairy bar. Mini-golf came soon thereafter and people started coming — and they never stopped.
“Everybody thought Morris was completely bonkers because one of the basic models of business is location, location, location,” said current co-owner Ann Ostergaard, whose husband was Morris’ nephew. “And we’re off the beaten path; we’re not on Main Street. People don’t drive by here and go, ‘Oh yeah, that looks great.’ There’s no other reason to come through here.
“When Morris was starting this in ‘57, people thought he lost his marbles. But I think, because it’s away from everything, because it’s off the beaten path and tucked away somewhere, that’s the draw. People can take that break, that oasis.”
It’s not hard to see why generations of families in northeastern Pennsylvania continue to return. Once you get over the pastoral scene — blue skies, backyard songbirds, rolling green hills — there’s still a lot to enjoy. The original mini-golf course was replaced by two modern courses in 2003, both of which made VisitPA’s top-10 course list and include landscaping such as waterfalls, rivers and a water tower. Customers can also eat their ice cream and food — chicken fingers, cheesesteaks, BBQ, etc. — from wooden benches and picnic-style seating under a pavilion.
But there are also the small touches you won’t see advertised on any billboard; like all the freshly painted birdhouses that look like small hotels and attract Purple Martins, one of North America’s most beloved songbirds.
In fact, Heisler’s is home to the second-largest population of Purple Martins in the state. You can’t sink a hole-in-one or sip on a $4 milkshake without hearing them sing.
But, first, good luck finding one of rural Pennsylvania’s best-kept secrets. The journey to Heisler’s inevitably takes visitors through winding two-lane roads, narrow enough so the trees overhead often form canopies, providing shade to motorists on sunny days. Even Heisler’s website prompts “completely lost” visitors not to trust their GPS and give them a call.
But, if you want to go the distance, try finding it at 743 Catawissa Road in Tamaqua. It’s about 12 miles northeast of Pottsville’s famous Yuengling Brewery — and, just like she has been for the last 30-plus years, Ostergaard will be there to answer the phone if you can’t quite find your way.
“I’m very proud of what my family has started and what we have maintained — not proud of it on a successful, like profitability-thing, level,” she said with a rolling laugh. “But proud that we have something that people did enjoy, still can enjoy and hopefully will enjoy for many decades to come.”
What to know: The two mini-golf courses are both regionally themed, with Black Diamond Fairways (Par 45) focused on coal mining and Lewistown Fairways (Par 46) centered on milling. There are 38 flavors of ice cream, from the usual (chocolate, peanut butter cup, cookie dough) to the more exotic (teaberry, cashews & raspberry, pistachio), in addition to two flavors of sherbert (orange, watermelon) and five flavors of yogurt. Prices range from $3.09 for a small cone to $5.49 for a banana split. There are also 16 hot food items to choose from, including pierogies (3/$3.25), hamburgers ($3.20) and hot dogs ($2.40). The most expensive item is a $6.95 cheesesteak.
What to bring: A good sense of direction (or GPS/map), sunblock (limited shade) and cash (some venues do not accept cards).
How to get there: From State College, use Interstate 80 or U.S. 322 East to start your about 2 1/2 hour journey. If you need help along the way, call the dairy at 570-668-3399.
Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy is open 6 days a week and is closed on Wednesdays. During the summer, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
