Unexpected Travel Discoveries

When thinking of Colorado ski trips, most people imagine light, powdery snow, bright blue sky, and steep, cold mountains. An ice cream shake is not the first thought that comes to mind, unless, perhaps, you are more of an après-skier than an actual skier. But the Lewis Sweet Shop might change that.

On a recent ski trip, I was driving through the mountains back to Denver when a sudden blizzard reduced my visibility to a few feet. I had to get off the highway at the next exit, which happened to be Empire, Colorado. In the 300-person town, there are few amenities for weary travelers. Fortuitously, though, I stumbled upon the Lewis Sweet Shop and walked in from the cold.

Upon entering, I felt like I had been teleported back to my childhood, when visits to the candy store were magical. The shop was small. There were 4 small tables and a counter displaying homemade candy, ice cream, and other treats. Somehow, there was room for a giant Jenga set that two kids managed to stack taller than the tops of their heads. The kids’ parents were engaged in a friendly conversation with the people behind the counter, who I later learned were the shop owners.

In the corner, a guitarist played familiar tunes while the customers sang along. And a small electric train chugged around the shop’s ceiling beams, further adding to the magical atmosphere.

After pausing a few moments at the entrance, I got in line to order food. While American staples, including hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, were available, the sweets were featured. After perusing the homemade candy and ice cream, I discovered the enormous selection of shakes. There must have been 25 different flavors options along with two different consistency options: thick or thin.

I ordered a thick vanilla shake and was warned that it would be extremely thick. But this admonition did not adequately prepare me for what was in store. The shake was so thick it towered above the top of the cup. The owners recognized that the thick shakes could not be consumed through a straw, so they gave me a spoon instead. Never has a shake tasted so good.

As I finished the last few spoonfuls, I noticed through the window that the snow had stopped. Just then, I heard a loud crash. I spun my head around and saw that the Jenga set had finally collapsed. With a big grin on my face, I thanked the owners and walked back to my car. Never again will a ski trip fail to include a thick shake from the Lewis Sweet Shop.