Guest blogger Katie Wolfe is a social worker in Waco. When she first moved to town eight years ago, she worked in the soda fountain at the Dr Pepper Museum. She now serves on the organization’s board of directors.
By Katie Wolfe
Coffee shops are the place to meet up and catch up on the latest buzz. But before the coffee craze, people gathered around a counter that served up something a little different – soda.
When you order a skinny latte from your favorite barista you get coffee with low-fat milk. When Wacoans of yesteryear asked the jerk behind the fountain counter to, “shoot me a Waco,” they would receive an ice cold Dr Pepper.
Invented in a drug store at the corner of 4th Street and Austin Avenue in 1885, Dr Pepper is the nation’s oldest major soft drink and certainly a hometown favorite. There’s a place in town you can still order a Dr Pepper like that - the soda fountain at the Dr Pepper Museum (DPM).
Let me guess, you’ve lived in Waco for a long time and never been. It’s time to change that, friends.
Open seven days a week, the soda fountain at the DPM is the only place in Waco to get hand-mixed soft drinks, including Dr Pepper. They also offer Blue Bell Ice Cream to enjoy in a variety of tasty treats. I can personally recommend a Dr Pepper float to beat the summer heat. I also did a very official poll of DPM staff and they recommend the black cow, pink cow, Big Red (also invented in Waco), and Dr Pepper milkshake. Be sure to check out the ice cream flavor of the month, too!
Here’s a pro tip: you don’t have to purchase an admission ticket to the museum’s galleries to visit the soda fountain. Stop by for happy hour – 75 cents for a large drink – weekdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 1 p.m. If you want to get fancy, you can add flavors like cherry, vanilla, and more.
Move over, Sonic!
One more bite: The DPM is located at the corner of 5th St. and Mary Ave. in Downtown Waco. For hours of operation, menu items, and exhibit information, visit drpeppermuseum.com. Follow @drpeppermuseum on Facebook and Twitter for updates on soda fountain specials, Dr Pepper history, and DPM events.
