Our beloved Sin City has a long tradition of celebrating milestones with excess, and Betty Crocker's 105th birthday is no exception. I made my first trip to the Museum of Ice Cream at Area15 to see how the town handles a centenarian-plus. The answer: sprinkles. So many sprinkles!
by Staci Layne Wilson
First, a little history. Betty Crocker never existed. Honestly, this was news to me! But here’s the skinny: In 1921, the Washburn-Crosby Company (a forerunner of General Mills) got flooded with baking questions after a Gold Medal Flour puzzle contest. They wanted a friendly, trustworthy name to sign the replies, so they combined "Betty" with the surname of a retired company director, William Crocker. A secretary, whose name has faded into history’s mists, signed it in script, and that signature is still around. By the 1920s she had a radio show, and in 1936 she got a face, courtesy of a portrait by artist Neysa McMein. Not bad for a woman who is technically a brand. She has outlasted most celebrities and every Vegas residency except Wayne Newton's.
Now, the party. The museum's month-long celebration includes an exclusive flavor called Betty's Birthday Cake Ice Cream: yellow cake pieces, chocolate fudge swirls, and rainbow sprinkles, inspired by her yellow cake mix and chocolate frosting. It tastes like every childhood birthday you've ever had, minus the awkward clown.
The museum bills itself as an "Experium," not a museum, which is the kind of branding only a city with a Eiffel Tower replica could love. There are 17+ Vegas-exclusive attractions, a Sprinkle Pool with towering dual slides, and the world's largest ice cream buffet: 32 flavors, 48 toppings, and unlimited scoops from local creameries. You also get three surprise accessories from Ribbon's Costume Shop, so you can look as ridiculous as you feel. The ice cream slot machines are just for show, which makes them the only slots in Vegas where you can't lose money.
For Halloween, the bar is serving a sparkly "Witches Brew" rum drink. It was very sweet (shocker, I'm in a place where the air smells like waffle cone), but tasty. Think Sugar, Sugar by The Archies, with a rum kick.
You can also visit the Little Pink Chapel for a BaubleBar bracelet ceremony. Elvis isn't officiating, but this is Vegas, so give it time.
The details: Bring your ticket confirmation email, a photo ID, and your love of ice cream. You can explore at your own pace. Kids 2 and under are free, and guests under 16 need an adult. The museum is at Area15, Zone 2, 3072 Rigel Ave, Suite 110.
Happy birthday, Betty. You're 105, you're fictional but you're still the best thing to happen to a cake.