Big Dipper celebrates 30 scooping years on the Hip Strip

Since 1996, Big Dipper has been at its iconic spot on the corner of 5th and Higgins, with two deep freezers, machines churning, staff scooping, and full picnic tables.

“It’s always a good energy getting ice cream here,” Beaton said. “We’re selling an experience, and I think that’s what people get when they come here, they see friends, they meet people. There’s a lot of people traveling through Montana in the summertime,” Beaton said.