Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
Ferdinand just got sweeter, thanks to one bright yellow bus. At 960 Main Street, Andy Hagedorn has been acashier in a convenience store, helped with an auto service station and now, he’s the owner of an ice creambus, Old School Ice Cream.
Hagedorn always wanted to do something with the property his ice cream shop now sits on. His father ran agas station and auto repair shop there for 50 years, before he passed away in 2014.
“That’s kind of where I grew up, is at this location,” Hagedorn said.
In the last year, Hagedorn decided to purchase the property and keep it within the family. He knew he wantedto do something good for the town and honor his father with it; he just wasn’t sure what. Then, he rememberedas a kid hearing his father joke that it would be a great location for an ice cream store.
A friend of Hagedorn’s discovered an old 1963 Ford bus for sale in Litchfield, Kentucky. Hagedorn spent thespring sprucing up the bus, preparing to bring it home and turn it into Old School Ice Cream.
Hagedorn’s family thought he was crazy. He already worked a full-time job and they live on land out in thecountry where there is always work to do, plus all the other activities that keep them busy.
“There’s just not enough time in the day,” Hagedorn said. “So, to add another business was definitely a hard sell to them.”
Three weeks ago, the bus was ready to be brought to Ferdinand, but the renovations were not finished. All theutilities and equipment inside the bus still needed to be set up, plus the customer seating outside.
Despite their doubts, Hagedorn’s kids, Henry, Gus and Ella; and his wife, Amy, all helped get the locationready. Several friends also volunteered their free time to work on the bus.
“There was just a lot to do in a short period of time,” Hagedorn said. “We had lots of
plumbing and electrical and just getting the site ready.”
Once his family saw the turnout on the opening night, their apprehension seemed to fade away.
Old School Ice Cream opened June 11, 2026, with a soft opening, but there still was a long line of customersdown the sidewalk. It was a line longer than one at the funeral home for someone is well-liked, Hagedornrecounted. On the first night, they nearly sold out of everything Hagedorn and his wife had anticipated wouldlast the entire weekend.
“She had to go scramble to reload and get enough ice cream and food to get us through the
rest of the weekend,” Hagedorn said.
Up to 12 ice cream flavors are available at a time. The ice cream is sourced locally and made exclusively forice cream shops like Old School Ice Cream. Chili dogs, smashburgers, pretzels and other concession stand-style food are also available. All the ice cream flavors and eats have unique names: “Jack and Diane” chilidog, “Good Intentions” peanut butter fudge, “Absolutely Insane Bus Driver” extreme moose tracks, to name a few.
Live music will be at Old School Ice Cream as often as possible and when it’s not, a mic is open. Hagedorn’sgoal is to create a fun, relaxing atmosphere.
“I love going to Nashville; I love going to Madison, Indiana where there’s music and just kind of sitting andhanging out and enjoying food and listening to music,” Hagedorn said. “That’s what I want to create here.”
During their opening weekend, people told Hagedorn they felt like they were on vacation.
“Whenever they’re in Florida, or you know, on vacation, that’s what they’re looking for,” he
said. “Some fun food and live music.”
Hagedorn wants to use Old School Ice Cream to give back. On select Sundays, they plan to give portions of theirproceeds to local organizations they feel are doing good things in the community. Last Sunday, they donated25% of their profits to Anderson Woods Summer Camp, a summer camp for special needs children andadults.
In the future, Hagedorn hopes to work with Trotter House and Right to Life. He would like
the organizations’ volunteers to come help work some Sundays.
Old School Ice Cream is open Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays noon-9 p.m. and Sundays 1-5p.m. through September.