Ranch Milkshake, ‘Nuff Said

Jon Eyer

Standing squarely at the intersection of sweet and savory, the Ranch Milkshake at family resort Great Wolf Lodge may be the ultimate study in craveable contrasts. Tangy ranch dressing is mixed with creamy, sweet vanilla ice cream to create the shake base. This is topped with crispy fried popcorn chicken for a salty, savory bite, along with fresh carrots and celery for crunch. A salt-lime rim and whipped cream complete the intriguing build that defies easy categorization.

“It’s definitely unexpected, but each component has a purpose,” says Jon Eyer, VP of culinary operations. “It’s all about the balance and surprise. When you take something that’s traditionally been a sweet item and make it savory, it immediately sparks curiosity.” Leaning into the incredible popularity of ranch, especially in the Midwest, was key.

The distinctive presentation and array of textures get people talking. “Which is exactly what we were going for,” notes Eyer. “Even the mixed reactions were positive. It sparked conversation, got people trying it just to see what it was about and created a lot of buzz. For a limited-time item, that’s really the goal.”

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