Toll Gate Ice Cream Will Be Resurrected on The Albany Rail Trail

A historic restaurant in Slingerlands will be resurrected late this year serving the same delicious homemade ice cream and food. The Toll Gate Ice Cream restaurant will be newly designed to accommodate the traffic from the Albany County Rail Trail.

What's the History of the Toll Gate Ice Cream Restaurant?

The Zautner family has owned the restaurant since 1948. The patriarch of the family passed away in 2012 and then Rob Zautner, the family's third-generation owner, fell ill in 2017 and the family was forced to close the doors for good because of medical bills.

 Will the Building Look the Same?

Since the Zautner family is still a partner in the business, the submitted plans will remain true to their roots, according to the Times Union. The building will be the same with a much-needed facelift.

Remodeling to Accommodate Rail Trail Traffic

Toll Gate Ice Cream is considered to be the centerpiece building of Slingerlands and the residents of the town are pleased they are keeping the building the same. They will rehab the building that is behind the original and create a brand new ice cream shop. The purpose is to be accessible to people on the Albany County Rail Trail along with regular car traffic. They will build an outdoor seating area in the back away from Route 85. The plans include adding four hundred square feet of new indoor space and outdoor seating areas that will be out back facing the rail trail.

Ice Cream Will Remain the Centerpiece

Toll Gate is known for its homemade ice cream and they will still continue to do so. They will make their homemade ice cream in the original building's basement using the original recipes.