A lot of attention has been paid over the years to our “funny sounding” name. Customers often ask, “Why is your company called Turkey Hill?” The answer, of course, lies in the history of the land on which the Dairy sits.
Centuries ago, this region was home to the Susquehannock Native American tribe, which lived just north of the ridge where the Dairy is located. The land was a fertile hunting ground for the Susquehannocks, most notably because of its large population of turkeys. And so, the ridge became known as “turkey hill.”
Or so we thought.
In the past year, thanks to a new understanding of the Susquehannock language and archaeological evidence discovered in the area, researchers have begun to question whether the tribe hunted turkeys at all. Last week, that evidence finally yielded an answer when a team of Lancaster County historians concluded that instead of hunting turkeys, the Susquehannocks hunted turtles (specifically, snapping turtles), which thrived on the banks of the nearby Susquehanna River.
For this reason, and because we take our history very seriously, Turkey Hill Dairy has decided to change its name to Turtle Hill Dairy. The official change will take place on June 1, 2011, but we’ve already incorporated the change in various places. Below is a sneak peek at our new logo and package. You can also see the new logo on our website (since “turtlehill.com” was already taken, our web address will remain turkeyhill.com … at least for now). The change, so far, has been pretty simple. As Turkey Hill President Quintin Frey likes to point out, “We only have to change three letters!”
We’re very excited about this new chapter in the Dairy’s history, and we hope all of you are too. We’d like to emphasize that even though our name may be changing, you can be sure that our commitment to high quality ice cream and iced tea will remain the same!
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
Happy April fools to you, too!
You aren’t catching us again — send me some free ice cream, please
APRIL FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m glad you don’t mind pulling April Fool’s jokes.
Actually I think the Turtle is cute. Too bad your new name came about on April 1st.
I’m so happy two of you responded already. They caught me. I was like “noooooooo” … lol …
April Fool’s!!
Ha! Ha! April Fool!! As soon as I started to read it, I knew it had to be a joke!
You would never mess with “Turkey Hill’s” great name, which is synonymous with GREAT ice-cream!
Sounds a little fishy to me. I was waiting for someone to do an April Fools Joke. Pretty good, turkey, turtle could be confused by the Indians. LOL
April Fool!!! Nice Try Turkeys lol!!!!
Yet another good April Fool’s joke – congrats on this one!
Is this an April Fool’s joke?
Who ever heard of a turtle hill? The joke’s on you. April Fool!
I had to read it twice!!! Happy April Fool’s to you too!!! I loved it.
Thank goodness you didn’t find it originated in china! I would hate to see “Made in China” on my Made in PA, USA, Turkey/Turtle Hill Ice Cream!
Yet another good April Fool’s joke – congrats on this one!
LOL! Very funny!!
I love that you have a sense of humor!
Love the April Fools JOKE Great one Glad to see you join in on the Fun!!!!!
Well, it it WAS Turtle Hill, maybe I’d slow down a bit when I eat my ice cream…I finish it too soon!! And THAT’S no joke!
A very big mistake, changing you name. Turkey Hill is part of Lancaster as the Conestoga Wagon is. It’s another huge mistake like Coke-Cola made about many years ago. Changing the name to Turtle sound weak and a poor representative of our culture and history
I forgot it was April Fools Day until I read the responses
Funny! I also think the turtle on the ice cream package is pretty cute. It was a good April Fool’s joke – thanks for the laugh!
Very funny!!! LOL
you almost had me and then I remembered the date, thanks for the fun
You almost had me too! You will somehow have to incorporate that cute turtle into your product line.
First April Fools joke of the day (that I know of)!!
Nice one! April Fool to you too!
Ahhh- you got me. Didn’t know it was April 1st. Third shift is like that. Never know what day it is. I just text 1/2 my friends at THD to verify this. Now the gossip will fly. That’s sooo funny.
I love the gang at TH!
Oh boy am I glad it was an April Fool joke – I was ready to go back to the “other” brand of ice cream!!!
LOL, nice one. Although I think the change to a turtle would be fun.
Wait a minute here! You mean to tell me that the folks over at Turtle Hill make a great ice cream in addition to the delectable iced teas I’ve been enjoying for so many years now? Who woulda thought.
It took me awhile but I realized too it was April 1st.
I love your Ice Cream, my freezere is never without it!
Hey, you TURKEYS!!! Enough already with the April Fool’s jokes! Just keep cranking out your DELICIOUS ICE CREAM!!!! We love our TURKEY Hill!!!
The Barnes Gang @ The REAL New Jersey Shore xoxo
Great try for April Fool’s Day, but you have some pretty smart customers!
April Fool!
my husband almost ‘fainted’…..he is a BIG TURKEY hill lover!!!!!! and we, too, forgot about April Fool’s until we read on…You got us GOOD!!!!!! thanks; really a good laugh is good medicine!!!!!
April fools on me. I feel for it lock, stock and sinker, I’ve had a good laugh. Caught me totally of guard, it’s was a good April fool joke
HaHa tortuga is turtle in Lancaster County but we know Turkey-Hill is in our freezer section @ our local food store no matter how you change your name as long as you keep putting out the Best Ice Cream this side of the mason dixon line… you’ll shine…wtg turkey-hill.
RIGHT BACK AT YOU !!!! APRIL FOOLS’ DAY TO YOU TOO.
WITH A GREAT PRODUCTS CHANGING YOUR NAME WOULD BE AWFUL. ESPECIALLY CALLING IT TURTLE HILL HA HA. GOOD ONE.
Very fun April Fool’s joke. You had me thinking you were serious except that I couldn’t imagine why you would do such a thing. Not even for history. I like the carton.
Is Sidd Finch going to be the new chairman of the board?
(Sidd Finch was the famous Sports Illustrated April Fool’s joke some years ago.)
Happy April 1st to all! Now we need some nicer weather to go with it and a bowl of turtle ice cream.
Happy April Fools Day
Very funny joke! lol You almost had me!
T is for Turtle, so small and green and slow,
U is for unbelievable, any fool would know….
But by any name, still the same.
HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!
How about making some Turtle Sundae ice cream – vanilla with caramel, cashews and milk chocolate chunks?
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA YOU CANT GET ME GREAT DAY ALRIL FOOLS DAY
Who is the weirdo who thinks up these so-called “jokes”? He is the one who is April Fooled. Although Turtle Hill isn’t bad sounding.
I was prepared for this day as I see everyone else was also. Great joke. Now you can give us all a carton or two of TURKEY HILL Ice Cream for catching on. I’ll try almost anything for your ice cream
was not thinking about april 1st. you got me good on this one.
Why sure – I’m always confusing my turtles and my turkeys! Who doesn’t?
Great name! I can’t wait to see the new ice cream in our area stores.
what a marvelous history lesson, HAHA Happy April Fools Day!
make the story better next year and do on 3/31 that should them.
OK!!!! And now I suppose you will have Snapping Turtle Soup flavor in the line up pretty soon. Would YOU eat it? I agree with Susan, the turtle is cute, he needs to stick around somehow. Thanks for a good laugh!
Nice try…..maybe you could change the name to Susquehannock Hill, that has a nice ring to it.
Happy April Fools Day all.
Keep the turtle!
When I began to read your entry I was going to write you a thank you for the history lesson. However, as I read further into the article it began to sound more like an April Fool’s joke. Thanks for the interesting article. We enjoy your delicious ice cream, whatever you want to call it.
Thanks for your delightful April Fool jokes.
I think I will go buy some Turtle Hill Ice Cream and keep it as it should be valuable some day.
[...] Turkey Hill, which has always sounded a little awkward (what exactly is a turkey hill anyways?), has changed its name to Turtle Hill. [...]
OK. Great one. Very smooth AFDJ, …….just like a dish of their great ice cream!! Smooth!
So, why NOT use the turtle, andd the goofy package, for a Turtle® [candy] flavor?? [kinda like Herr's® snacks did some "His" spoof packaging last year of their products]
O.K. – you got me on that one. Oh well, Turkey or Turtle Hill Dairy – it doesn’t matter. The taste is great either way!
Could we please have some turtle flavored ice cream to commemorate the name change announcement? I’m thinking the chocolate, caramel, pecan kind of turtles. You could call it Turtle Hill. By any name, it would taste yummy.
I couldn’t believe in such a drastic change. For one thing you gave us no warning. You don’t change a company’s name in a blog. It would have to hit the media. As others have said this news was placed on April Fool’s Day. Keep your old name and keep Turkey Hill coming for the enjoyment of all.
[...] The inside scoop on ice cream and Turkey Hill Dairy « A NEW HISTORY AND A NEW NAME! [...]
Now, after all theses years, isn’t that something!!!
Slow and steady wins the race….(tortise and hare adage)
Welcome Turtle Hill Ice Cream.
(Maybe you can come up with a turtle and carmel ice-cream combo with that delicious “Turtles” candy company)
new flavors
Turtle Mud Swirl
Terrapin Swamp Mint
Leatherback Fudge
Snapping Vanilla
Tortoise Seaweed Chunk
Chicken Turtle Long Necked Chocolate
Ninja Turtle Karate Chop Chip Ice Cream
[...] many of you immediately guessed, yesterday’s entry about our name change to “Turtle Hill Dairy” was, of course, an April Fool’s joke. We should [...]
[...] many of you immediately guessed, yesterday’s entry about our name change to “Turtle Hill Dairy” was, of course, an April Fool’s joke. We should [...]
It’s the slooooooow ice cream–much like Heinz ketsup!
Is it April 1st? Me thinks Yes!
April fools!