Giant ice cream cone debuts in Ackley

ACKLEY – RAGBRAI riders will be sure to remember the city of Ackley after the big ride brings them through the little town later this month.

After all, it’s hard not to remember a 20-foot-tall ice cream cone sitting in the middle of town.

The cone, of course, isn’t edible, but made of fiberglass. It stands 20 feet and 8 inches tall, and weighs 500 pounds.

The giant cone is the creation of Jeff and Janet Kurth of Ackley, who will be debuting it as RAGBRAI goes through their hometown on Wednesday, July 22.

Janet said that she and her husband are putting the finishing touches on the cone now, including the installation of an ice cream machine, which they will use to serve ice cream to riders passing through.

The Kurths plan to take their giant ice cream cone to different festivals and events throughout the summer to sell ice cream, and say they are open to suggestions on where to serve.

To find out more about the Kurths' peculiar creation, including the interesting story behind how Jeff came up with the idea, read the rest of the story in Tuesday's paper.