[strumming acoustic guitar] - Angela Fitzgerald: This Dutch-style windmill is an icon of pop culture in the Northwoods.

- Pat Berg: It is a landmark for sure.

The history of the building is fantastic.

We hear a lot of stories.

- Russell Berg: It was part of Phil's Resort on Lake Nokomis.

The building goes back to 1939, and it was originally built as a Sinclair gas station.

- Russell Berg is the family historian.

- Russell: Over the years, it's been a candy shop.

There was an information booth, and sometime in the mid to late 70s, it became an ice cream shop, and it has been ever since.

- The Berg family built its own history with the Windmill and can serve up stories and ice cream all in one scoop.

- Russell: In 1993, my parents bought it, Pat and Charlie Berg.

Mom was getting close to retirement as a fourth-grade teacher down in Athens, Wisconsin.

- Pat Berg: And I said going past here, "Someday, we're going to own this."

Never giving it another thought at all.

Can I help you, sir?

[twangy country guitar] Pat: When we bought it, I said, "We're buying it for the kids and for the young at heart."

Oh, here comes the kids.

[fun, swinging jazz] - Ice cream is what put this tourist attraction on the map.

[bouncy jazz] - Russ: We like to think we're at the intersection of Wisconsin's dairy industry and tourism industry, offering the best of what the state of Wisconsin has to offer.

- Customer: Thank you so much.

- For more than 32 years, the Bergs have hand-scooped, served, and created smiles.

- Rodney Berg: The biggest surprise for me was just how happy it makes people feel.

No one ever comes into an ice cream shop crying.

- Pat: Hello, come on in.

Don't be shy.

And I love when they come in as a family, and all the kids are smiling and looking already what they're going to order.

- Child: I'm going to, ahh... - Adult: Okay.

- Pat: Even the little babies, I always say, "Oh, Baby came for a treat."

- Russ Berg: It's become a tradition.

People reminiscing to where their grandparents brought 'em, and now they're bringing their kids or their grandkids.

[lively swing music] - Mother: All right, guys.

Smile!

- So fun!

- For several generations, the Windmill has also become a Berg family tradition.

- Rodney: Spending 30 years working alongside my mom, seeing how it grew throughout all those years.

- Pat: Two scoops on that?

Chocolate on top, hot fudge.

- Rodney: And then, as I got married and had children, when they got old enough, I was working alongside them, too.

- Meagan Berg: I grew up here, so it's a special place for me.

Meagan: When I was really little, I would come and help clean up in the morning.

And then, when I was old enough, I started scooping ice cream.

I got to hang out with her and I became super close with her.

Just watching her own her business inspired me to just follow my dreams.

- Customer: I'm gonna get a single scoop in a bowl.

- I have very good grandchildren, and they're very helpful, and they're very good.

They learn fast.

- Angela: With more than 100 flavors in rotation, there's always a favorite in store.

- Russ: You always have to have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.

- Teen: Here's strawberry.

- Russ: Okay, we have a blueberry cheesecake to go in next, along with bubble gum and cake and ice cream.

Okay?

- Pat: Yep.

- Flavor after flavor, year after year, the Windmill made a name for itself.

- Child: Yay!

- Adult: The birthday cake.

- If it's a holiday, it's lines out the door all day long.

[sentimental acoustic] July 4th is our Super Bowl week or weekend.

It's the biggest holiday here in the Northwoods.

- Pat: Oh, we're gonna need a new one.

- Russ: There are times where we will go through 70 to 80 tubs of ice cream.

- Meagan: You get to see all these people coming in on boats, [boat blows horn] you know, enjoying their summer.

- Family in unison: Bye!

- Meagan: You get to see people, you know, connect with one another and have a smile on their face.

- Pat: Sometimes, I think, "Wow, this is fabulous!

"The lines of people that come and good people, nice people."

- You want the chocolate one, or do you want the one with chocolate chunks?

- I love the Windmill, and I always did.

- Place...

I have so many memories here, like countless.

[laughs] So, it's just a special place for me.

A million funny stories.

- Charlie: It's kind of humbling to have so many people come and love and comment on their experiences here.

The biggest compliment we can get is when a family says, "We'll be back tomorrow."

[acoustic guitar riff]