ADRESSS: 45 N. Tegner St., Wickenburg.

PHONE NUMBER: 928-684-3252.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. After-hours bookings are available.

OWNERS: Tony and Pam Rovida.

CUISINE: American, homemade ice cream and desserts.

SEATS: 80.

OPEN SINCE: The Rovidas purchased the store in August 2009. Chaparral has been serving the community for more than 30 years.

WEBSITE: www.chaparral-icecream.com.

SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE: Hot fudge brownie sundae (secret family recipe brownies topped with homemade ice cream, hot fudge made from scratch, whipped cream and all the fixings); Jail Tree Cheese Steak Sandwich loaded with beef and fresh vegetables, smothered with homemade cheddar cheese or blue cheese sauce.

POPULAR APPETIZER: Secret recipe homemade cheese ball, served with every sandwich and also served to share. The cheese ball has been something Pam Rovida has been making for years as a Thanksgiving tradition. During the couple’s first year of business, many customers purchased a cheese ball to take to family parties throughout the holiday season, she said.

POPULAR LUNCH: Beef hot dog; Brawty Sandwich (hot bratwurst smothered with caramelized boysenberry onions) — “Messy, but worth it,” Pam Rovida said.

POPULAR DINNER: Jail Tree Sandwich with a large garden salad, made with fresh, crisp lettuce, olives, cheese and homemade croutons.

POPULAR DESSERT: Ice cream made in house, along with made-from-scratch chocolate, caramel, spicy cocoa and hot fudge sauces; sugar-free ice cream; brownie sundaes dished into one homemade waffle cone bowls; milkshakes; floats made with real sugar bottled sodas; malts; banana splits; homemade cookies; apple crisp and regular scoops; a new addition is the espresso milkshake.

AVAILABLE FOR: Dine in, take out, catering, parties. “You are not limited to only our menu items when interested in catering or in-house parties,” Pam Rovida said. “We have catered spaghetti dinners for local fund-raisers, as well as appetizers and hors d’oeuvres for other events.”

PRICE RANGE: $3-$7.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW: The family-owned and operated ice cream parlor had its official grand opening Oct. 24. The owners also plan to have a celebration this fall. Live music is offered during the winter months throughout the week and weekend. Visit the website for specific days as bands book the stage. Free wi-fi is available. Chaparral has a large parking area for tour buses, motor homes, large car/bike groups. Fund-raisers can be scheduled, with 20 percent of all food/ice cream purchases donated to the group on their fund-raiser day. The dining area is available to rent for weekly or monthly club meetings. Follow Chaparral Homemade Ice Cream on Twitter and become a friend on Facebook.

UNIQUE TIDBITS: All menu items are made fresh to order. The caramelized boysenberry onions are a recipe the owners created themselves. The gift area is filled with items from local artists, as well as the owners’ family and friends. “We feature our daughter’s cookbook, ‘Our First Year,’ that she and her husband wrote during their first year of marriage,” Pam Rovida said.

FUTURE PLANS: “Since purchasing Chaparral Homemade Ice Cream, we have worked very hard in turning the direction of the business around and providing a family friendly atmosphere with high-quality menu items,” Pam Rovida said. “It would be amazing to have Chaparral return to being an exciting and popular tourist attraction with vacationers and tour buses, including their favorite scoop of ice cream in all of their vacationing plans.”

SLOGAN: “Serving Sodas, Sandwiches, Sundaes & Smiles.”

Do you know of a great West Valley restaurant you’d like to see in our Dining Out feature? Let us know! Call Brittany Woodruff at 623-876-2527 or e-mail bwoodruff@yourwestvalley.com.

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