Walt's Ice Cream Changes Some Flavors For 2026: 'Last Year, We Started A Testing Process'

JOLIET, IL — This marked the first week of being open in 2026 for brothers Mike and Bill Dillon of Joliet's iconic Walt's Ice Cream. Walt's always closes down for the winter, but when March rolls around, you can be sure that Walt's is back in business again.

During Thursday afternoon's interview, Joliet Patch's editor asked Mike Dillon how overall business went in 2025.

"It was our best year ever," he remarked.

As of now, Walt's is up to 35 different flavors of ice cream after carrying 34 in 2025. "It is the most we've ever had," Dillon explained. "Last year, we added one more freezer for storage."

There are no plans for the owners to substantially increase their ice cream flavors even more.

"We don't have the room. We just don't have the space in here," Mike Dillon pointed out.

For 2026, Walt's Ice Cream has added two new flavors: black cherry and monster cookie.

"Last year, we started a testing process of eight to 10 different flavors that lasted three or four days," Mike Dillon explained. "Black cherry and monster cookie were by far the best sellers of the tested flavors. Based on the demand, we went and put them into our permanent menu."

One of last year's regular flavors is longer available at Walt's. The blue moon didn't make it back for 2026.

"Monster cookie replaced blue moon and we wanted another kid-oriented flavor," Dillon remarked. "It's also blue but this has Oreo chocolate chip and cookie dough pieces in it."

Joliet Patch asked why blue moon didn't make the cut for 2026.

"It really never developed a following," Dillon said. "It did OK, but we just felt the monster cookie was a better alternative."

So what are the top ice cream flavors for patrons of Walt's?

Dillon led Joliet Patch to the large freezer and pointed them out — cookies 'n cream, butter pecan and mint chip.

"And Superman is always a favorite, too," he added.

"Last year, we added four or five flavors, and (almost) all of them are still incredibly popular," he said.

The 2025 new additions that are back for 2026 include banana, coconut and salty caramel chocolate pretzel. Only the blue moon isn't back.

One of Walt's biggest hits with its wide customer base is the fact that Walt's always carries sugar-free ice cream flavors. On Thursday, the ice cream flavor was peppermint. But that might change for this weekend.

"We keep it to one flavor, and we have around six or seven flavors that we rotate year-round, and they are very popular for a lot of people," Dillon said.

Not every single flavor offered at Walt's is considered a top seller. For instance, Walt's always brings back the black walnut on the regular menu because "it is a flavor that has a niche crowd. It's generally for our older population and we keep that for them specifically. They stay loyal to us, so we want to be loyal to them," Dillon said.

Walt's has been located at 1314 W. Jefferson St. since 1989, although the building dates back to 1948. "The building is one of the original drive-ins in the United States," Dillon shared.

From now until Memorial Day, Walt's is now open from noon to 10 p.m. seven days a week. As of Memorial Day, Walt's stays open until 11 p.m. and after Labor Day, Walt's closes at 10 p.m. Walt's closes when the frigid weather rolls around. Last year, Walt's stayed open until Oct. 30.

Of course, not everybody comes to Walt's to order an ice cream cone. "The turtle sundae has been a big seller. We have huge turtle sundaes that people love," Dillon remarked.

And the banana splits are a crowd-pleaser.

Before Thursday's interview ended, Joliet Patch asked Dillon if the rainbow cones are back for 2026. Without hesitation, he reached into one of his freezers and pulled one out to show.

"We sell rainbow cones year-round," he said. "We sell the original rainbow cone and a chocolate lover's."

For 2026, the nearly three dozen different ice cream flavors served inside Walt's Cream come from several states, including upstate New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and some parts of Illinois. "We get deliveries here every single day of the week. Thomas Jefferson was known for having ice cream in the White House," Dillon pointed out. "Some of his ice cream spoons sold for money at auctions.

"We just want everyone in the Joliet area to know that we appreciate the support we get from the community. They have been very supportive and loyal to us."

Related Joliet Patch story: Walt's Ice Cream: Rainbow Cones, Superman, Turtle Sundaes And More