This Shreveport Invention Has Won Over The Country With a Simple Fix

Oh, the sweet joy of a WonderStick. For many in the Ark-La-Tex, this J-shaped ice cream cone is a delightful and uniquely Shreveport tradition. I had never heard of it until my first Mudbug Madness Festival, but since that first bite, I've looked for that J-shaped goodness at every festival I've attended. It’s more than just a treat; it's a local staple that has been winning over hearts and stomachs far beyond Shreveport’s borders.

The ingenious design of the WonderStick was actually a solution to a common problem: melting ice cream dripping onto your hands. The J-shape cleverly uses gravity to keep the ice cream contained and away from your fingers. When asked to describe the cone itself, I often tell people it's like a very thick churro with ice cream in the middle. The team behind the WonderStick, however, would describe it as the perfect mix of thick and crunchy, a texture that prevents the ice cream from getting the cone soggy. An added bonus? It’s also gluten-free.

This now-famous invention was created by a father-and-son duo from Shreveport, Tobin and Lee Grigsby. They knew they had a delicious and much-needed invention on their hands and decided to showcase it at outdoor events right here in their hometown. The WonderStick officially made its grand debut at the Mudbug Madness Festival in 2015. Although it was first invented in 2014, it took some time for the dynamic duo to find the perfect place to launch their creation. From those humble Shreveport beginnings, WonderStick has grown to have five different stands that travel nationwide, spreading its unique deliciousness across the country.

The WonderStick is no longer just a Shreveport snack; it's an award-winning sensation. It holds two impressive titles: The Best Unique Food at the 2016 Oklahoma State Fair and The Most Unique Fair Food at the 2016 Pensacola Interstate Fair. It’s only fair that we share the goodness of Shreveport with the rest of the country, especially when it comes to fair food. Beyond winning awards, the WonderStick has also caught the attention of America at large after a special about it aired on A&E's "Best in Chow." This homegrown treat truly is a local legend that has gone national.