At the other end of the spectrum from the fine dining rooms of the village, and absolutely essential in its own right, is the Skan-Ellus Drive-In. It sits on Cherry Valley Turnpike, roughly between Skaneateles and Marcellus. And it’s an old-school Upstate New York drive-in that has been a summer institution for generations.
The space has recently been renovated. It’s now bright and clean, with indoor and outdoor seating, a nice deck, and a playground for the kids. Despite the fresh look, the vibe remains exactly what it always was — casual, nostalgic, and unpretentious.
The food menu covers all the drive-in classics. The Skan-Ellus Burger is the signature. Hofmann hot dogs are on deck for the purists. The haddock sandwich comes with a generous piece of perfectly cooked fish. And the hot turkey with gravy and fries is a comfort food moment worth seeking out. The outdoor seating is dog friendly too, which is always a bonus.
But really, the main event at Skan-Ellus is the ice cream. You’ll find soft serve and hard, non-dairy options, sundaes, and shakes. The rotating seasonal flavours are the real draw — the black raspberry soft serve has a devoted following, while the pumpkin vanilla twist in fall is the kind of thing that feels like a very specific and very good reason to be alive in Upstate New York.
Skan-Ellus is open seasonally from March through November 1. Find them at 1659 Cherry Valley Turnpike, open daily from 11am, with slightly later hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
Looking for the perfect base to explore everything Skaneateles has to offer? Our vacation rental The Cattails puts it all within reach — browse, eat, and explore at your own pace.