John & Lisa Bartlett took over Captain Dusty's Ice Cream in Manchester in April of 1996.  It had been converted from seafood to ice cream just one year before, by the Gates family.  

We produce ice cream and yogurt in 5 gallon batches.  Many ingredients are still hand stirred in to each batch.  We find that a machine breaks things like cookies too small, and just can't swirl the way a person can!
 
We are always open to new flavor ideas.  Many of our "flavors of the moment" have come from customers!

In 2000, we acquired the Beverly Farms location.  The property was a gas station in the 1960's, and was left contaminated.  We have done an extensive environmental clean up, and the property has now been given a clean bill of health by the MA Department of Environmental Protection.  

In 2001, we purchased the prodution facility of our supplier, Dick & JUne's Ice Cream of Beverly.  We have been making our own ice cream and frozen yogurt ever since.  

In 2002, we purchased the Salem location.  We opened with wet paint on the walls, with a line of people waiting on June 29th. 

In 2004, we won the bid to lease the canteen at Singing Beach in Manchester.  In 2008, we won the bid to lease the canteen at Lynch Park in Beverly.

We also provide ice cream for one othe ice cream stand and several reataurants on the North Shore.

We currently produce approximately 27,000 gallons of ice cream per year.