One of Mason County’s most beloved food brands is growing up — and growing into a facility four times the size of where it started. Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, the artisan ice cream maker that has operated out of the Skokomish Valley for over 40 years, is establishing a new home at the Port of Shelton: an 11,500-square-foot facility at 130 West Corporate Drive, backed by a $1.75 million state loan and expected to add 17 new jobs to the local economy.
The move is the largest single expansion in the company’s four-decade history, and one of the more significant food manufacturing investments Mason County has seen in years.
The Numbers Behind the Expansion
The Port of Shelton Commission passed a resolution approving the project’s financing — a $1.75 million low-interest loan from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). The loan is paired with at least $1 million in private investment from Olympic Mountain Ice Cream itself, for a total project investment of roughly $2.75 million.
The new facility is a renovated Port-owned warehouse at 130 West Corporate Drive. At 11,500 square feet, it is four times larger than Olympic Mountain Ice Cream’s previous Skokomish Valley location. The company currently employs 18 people and produces more than 50,000 gallons of artisan ice cream, gelato, and sorbet annually, serving over 300 active wholesale customers.
The expansion plan projects 17 new permanent jobs over the next five years — nearly doubling the current workforce. In a county where manufacturing employment is relatively scarce and wages in food production tend to be accessible to workers without specialized credentials, 17 additional positions represents a meaningful contribution to the local job market.
A New Public-Facing Retail Storefront
The Port of Shelton facility will include a retail storefront open to the public — a significant upgrade from the company’s previous production-focused setup. For Mason County residents who know Olympic Mountain Ice Cream primarily as the brand in their grocery store freezer case, the new location offers a chance to buy direct and see the operation up close.
The company has been handcrafting ice cream using Pacific Northwest-grown berries and stone fruit for more than 30 years under the same family ownership. Moving to a facility with a retail presence while maintaining its wholesale distribution network positions the company to grow both sides of its business simultaneously.
What Is CERB and Why Does It Matter for Mason County?
The Community Economic Revitalization Board is a Washington State program that provides low-interest loans and grants to public entities — including port districts — for infrastructure and economic development projects that create private sector jobs. The Port of Shelton received the $1.75 million CERB loan and is leasing the improved facility to Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.
CERB is not a grant program for private businesses directly; it works through public partners like ports and economic development councils. The Port of Shelton model here is a good example of how it’s designed to work: the public entity takes on the CERB debt, improves an asset, and leases it to a private business, which commits to creating jobs in exchange for the favorable terms.
For Mason County, the CERB financing keeps a homegrown company in the county that might otherwise have had to look at cheaper or more competitive real estate elsewhere in the Puget Sound region.
The Port of Shelton’s Expanding Role
The Port of Shelton, established in 1948, manages several distinct assets including Sanderson Field (a general aviation airport and industrial park on 1,200 acres) and the Johns Prairie Industrial Park. The Olympic Mountain Ice Cream partnership is consistent with the Port’s mission of attracting and retaining private sector employers in Mason County.
For the Port, the project represents a low-risk deployment of CERB capital into an established local business with a proven product, an existing customer base of 300+ wholesale accounts, and a 40-year operating history in the county.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Olympic Mountain Ice Cream facility located?
The new facility is at 130 West Corporate Drive in Shelton, at the Port of Shelton. The building is a renovated Port-owned warehouse that Olympic Mountain Ice Cream is leasing under the CERB-financed partnership arrangement.
When will the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream retail storefront open?
The project was moving toward a March 2026 opening based on the original timeline. Check the company’s website at olympicmountainicecream.com or their Facebook page for the most current opening status and hours.
What is the CERB loan and who receives the money?
The Community Economic Revitalization Board is a Washington State program that provides low-interest loans to public entities for economic development projects. The Port of Shelton received the $1.75 million CERB loan — not Olympic Mountain Ice Cream directly. The Port used the funds to renovate the warehouse building, which it leases to the ice cream company. The arrangement ties the public investment to job creation commitments.
How many jobs is the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream expansion expected to create?
The project is projected to create 17 new permanent jobs over five years, nearly doubling the company’s current workforce of 18. These are food manufacturing and production positions in Shelton, Mason County.
What does Olympic Mountain Ice Cream currently produce?
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream produces artisan ice creams, gelatos, and sorbets using Pacific Northwest-sourced ingredients including locally-grown berries and stone fruit. The company produces more than 50,000 gallons annually and serves over 300 active wholesale customers throughout the region.
How long has Olympic Mountain Ice Cream been in business?
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream has been operating for over 40 years under the same family ownership, with roots in the Skokomish Valley near the Olympic Mountain foothills. It is one of the oldest artisan ice cream makers in the Pacific Northwest.
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