Sure sign of spring: Ice cream truck sinks in Big Lake

BIG LAKE — Punxsutawney, Pa., may have a groundhog, but residents of Big Lake know they have a much more scientific method to predict the oncoming of spring.

For the 13th time, the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce towed an old ice cream truck in place for the Big Lake Ice Classic, selling tickets to people guessing when it will fall through the frozen lake.

Gamblers pay $2 to have a chance at 50 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales. Each ticket includes the buyer’s prediction for the day, hour and minute of the final sinking. The clock stops when the truck breaks completely through the ice, and the winning time is the closest prediction after the time has stopped.

“Even if a ticket has the time 1 second before the sinking, it doesn’t count,” reminded chamber president Bob DeLoack. “The winning time is the closest one after the event occurs.”

Last year, the truck sank May 8 at 11:15 p.m., according to event director Tim Caraway. The earliest recorded sinking was April 28, and the latest was May 14.

Ticket sales totaled about $1,000 last year. The winner, Lance Fredrickson, walked away with a check for $500, the remaining balance going to the chamber’s general fund.

“We hope to do better this year,” said Caraway, who thinks the winner might get around $1,000.

Currently, there are six locations to purchase tickets. Interested buyers should head to the chamber office, Steve’s Food Boy, the Spenard Builders Supply or the Napa Auto Parts in the Meadow Lakes Mall, the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex or Big Lake Power Sports and Marine.

The truck is parked 75 feet past the end of the Big Lake Power Sports and Marine dock just off of Big Lake Road.

Environmentalists need not worry, said DeLoack. Long past its delivering prime, the truck has been stripped of everything that could emit oil or chemicals, and the truck is towed back to the surface shortly after sinking.

“This particular truck was donated to us three or four years ago,” said DeLoack. “We have a permit to do this, and we attach a cable to the truck before it sinks. We work with a wrecker to pull it up.”

Back on dry land, the empty shell will wait at Big Lake Power Sports and Marine, according to Caraway, until next time when the thawing lake eats its ice cream truck treat.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.