Popular Arkansas dairy bar opens doors for first time in 10 months

Benton, Arkansas – The Kream Kastle Drive Inn was a well-liked destination on Highway 70 between Benton and Hot Springs for sixty years.

When it closed in August 2023, that was different.

“We were upset,” said Annetta Gilmore, a longtime customer of Kream Kastle. “This was our normal stop.”

The burgers, hot dogs, and well-known milkshakes of Kream Kastle were discontinued following the death of one of the original owners.

That is, until Heather and Ray Queen, the proprietors of the Salem Dairy Bar in Benton, made the decision to take over this summer.

“He decided to lease it out here not too long ago,” Ray Queen said of the old owner. “We came and hollered at him about it.”

The commercial agreement resulted in the grand reopening on Wednesday when regular customers showed up at 11 a.m. despite the rain. Gilmore was in the assembly.

“We’re excited,” Gilmore said. “Hopefully, we get our good milkshakes again.”

Some had never gone before, but they were curious to see what all the excitement was about after hearing about it.

“We were doing a job down the road there, and we saw the sign this morning at six o’clock,” Dennis Johnson of Pine Bluff said. “We were coming through, so we decided to stop here and try it since we’re working down the road. We’re going to try it all the time.”

Ray Queen stated that he is even more motivated to make Kream Kastle spectacular after witnessing the responses to its reopening.

“It’s more the people that are really excited for this place to be open,” Ray Queen said. “We’re excited for them because we’re going to make it good.”

For those who would like to sample it, Kream Kastle may be found in Benton at 15922 US-70. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. is when they are open. On Fridays and Saturdays, the dairy bar is open an hour later.

Kream Kastle is closed on Tuesdays but open on Sundays from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.