Tucked along Exit 25 off US-220 in Ellerbe, North Carolina, The Berry Patch is one of those rare roadside stops that genuinely lives up to the hype. A family-run farm stand with a towering 24-foot strawberry sculpture out front, this place has become a beloved landmark for travelers heading to and from the coast.
With nearly 3,000 five-star reviews, homemade ice cream, fresh produce, and a beachy hangout vibe in the middle of the Piedmont, it’s easy to see why people plan their road trips around it. Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, The Berry Patch always has something worth stopping for.
The Iconic 24-Foot Giant Strawberry Sculpture
You can spot it from the highway before you even see the sign. The massive 24-foot strawberry sculpture standing outside The Berry Patch in Ellerbe, NC, is one of those roadside landmarks that makes you slam on the brakes and grab your phone for a photo.
It’s bold, bright red, and impossible to miss.
The Berry family built this giant attraction as more than just a gimmick. It became the unofficial mascot of their farm stand, drawing in curious travelers who might have otherwise rolled right past Exit 25.
Today, the sculpture is recognized as one of North Carolina’s most fun and quirky roadside attractions.
Visitors love posing in front of it, and the spot near the strawberry has become a popular photo location. Kids especially go wild for it.
Families traveling to the beach often make it a tradition to stop and snap a picture each time they pass through.
The giant strawberry isn’t just a photo op — it’s a promise of what’s inside. Fresh produce, homemade ice cream, and good vibes are all waiting on the other side of that big red landmark.
It’s the kind of thing that turns a highway exit into a memory.
Homemade Ice Cream That Keeps People Coming Back
Ask anyone who has stopped at The Berry Patch what they remember most, and the answer is almost always the same: the ice cream. Made by the Berry family using homemade recipes, the flavors are rich, creamy, and taste nothing like the store-bought stuff you find at gas stations along the highway.
Popular flavors include strawberry, peach, banana, and peanut butter, but the list goes much further. Oreo, vanilla, and even blue raspberry snowcones round out the frozen treat menu.
The scoops are generously sized, and the service at the two order windows moves quickly even on busy weekends.
One reviewer described the peach ice cream as “wonderful” and said the experience was the best pit stop they had ever made. Another guest made a root beer float using the homemade vanilla and called it one of the best floats of their life.
That kind of praise doesn’t happen by accident.
Sitting in a rocking chair out front while eating a two-scoop cone on a warm afternoon is basically the definition of a perfect road trip moment. The Berry Patch ice cream has turned a simple highway stop into something people genuinely look forward to.
Fresh Farm Produce Stocked Daily
Bright peaches, plump watermelons, colorful vegetables, and strawberries so fresh they practically glow — the produce section at The Berry Patch is a serious operation. Much of what you find on the shelves comes directly from the Berry family’s own farm, with nearby farms filling in the gaps depending on the season.
Shoppers rave about the quality. One frequent visitor mentioned the peaches were big and fresh, while another highlighted the strawberries as some of the best they had ever tasted.
The produce is restocked regularly, so what you pick up is about as close to farm-fresh as you can get without growing it yourself.
Beyond the standard seasonal fare, the stand also carries country ham, honey, pumpkins, and a rotating selection of locally grown goods. It’s the kind of place where you walk in for one thing and walk out with a full bag of goodies you didn’t plan on buying.
For families on road trips, loading up on fresh fruit here beats paying highway rest stop prices for stale packaged snacks. Travelers heading to the beach often stock up on their way out, and regulars make it a habit to swing by on the return trip too.
The Beachy Sand Area and Outdoor Hangout Spot
Who says you need to be at the coast to feel the beach? The Berry Patch created a charming sandy hangout area right on the property that gives off serious vacation energy.
With beach music playing in the background and sand under your feet, it’s a surprisingly refreshing escape from the long stretch of highway behind you.
Reviewers consistently mention this little corner of the property as a highlight. One guest said it was a “wonderful alternative” when you can’t make it to the actual beach.
Another called it a “cute place to take selfies” and praised the fun, relaxed atmosphere it creates for the whole family.
The area works especially well for families traveling with kids who need to burn off some energy. There’s also a small play area nearby, giving parents a chance to sit back, enjoy their ice cream, and breathe for a few minutes before getting back on the road.
It’s a clever and thoughtful touch from the Berry family, who clearly understand that a great roadside stop is about more than just products. Creating a space where people actually want to linger — not just grab and go — is what sets The Berry Patch apart from every other farm stand on the highway.
Apple Cobbler, Shakes, and Specialty Treats
The ice cream gets most of the attention, but the specialty desserts at The Berry Patch deserve their own spotlight. The apple cobbler is a fan favorite — warm, hearty, and best enjoyed with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of caramel, and a handful of pecans on top.
One reviewer described it as “excellent” and said it was easily the highlight of their visit.
Chocolate milkshakes are another popular order, thick and rich in the way only homemade ice cream can produce. The strawberry lemonade with real strawberry chunks has also earned serious praise, especially from younger visitors who love the bold, fruity flavor.
Snowcones are available too, and they run on the generous side. One guest ordered a blue raspberry snowcone and was genuinely surprised by the size — much bigger than expected and well worth the price.
The variety of sweet options means just about everyone in the car can find something to get excited about.
What makes these treats special isn’t just the flavor — it’s the care behind them. The Berry family puts real effort into what they serve, and that passion comes through in every bite.
Stopping here isn’t just a convenience; it’s a genuine treat worth planning for.
Pickles, Jams, Honey, and Country Store Goods
Step inside The Berry Patch and the country store section feels like stepping back in time in the best possible way. Rows of pickled okra, banana peppers, and classic dill pickles sit alongside artisan jams, jellies, local honey, pimento cheese spread, and old-fashioned candies that are getting hard to find anywhere else.
One regular visitor described it as a “down home general store” and said their personal favorites were the pickled okra and banana ice cream — a combination that perfectly captures the eclectic, lovable character of the place. Another shopper picked up pimento cheese spread and fresh strawberries and said they were looking forward to coming back.
The selection rotates with the seasons, so there’s always something new to discover. Specialty jellies, handmade crafts, and locally sourced packaged goods from small businesses fill the shelves alongside the farm’s own products.
It’s the kind of shopping experience that feels personal rather than commercial.
For travelers who love finding unique, locally made food products, this section alone is worth the stop. You won’t find pickled okra like this at a chain grocery store.
The Berry Patch has curated a collection of goods that reflects the heart of rural North Carolina, and every jar on those shelves tells a story.
Pet-Friendly Setup for Four-Legged Travelers
Traveling with a dog can make roadside stops complicated, but The Berry Patch has thought of that too. The property includes a dedicated pet area where dogs can stretch their legs, sniff around, and take a break from the car — which is honestly just as important for the humans in the vehicle as it is for the pets.
Multiple reviewers have praised the dog-friendly setup. One guest specifically mentioned it as a standout feature, noting that the pet area is well-maintained and gives furry travel companions a proper chance to unwind.
Another reviewer simply described the stop as “dog friendly” while highlighting the great atmosphere and farm stand quality.
The outdoor layout of The Berry Patch works naturally for pet owners. With plenty of open space, shaded seating, and a relaxed environment, dogs seem right at home here.
The staff has a reputation for being warm and welcoming to both two-legged and four-legged visitors.
For road trippers who refuse to leave their pets at home — and there are a lot of them — finding a stop that genuinely accommodates animals is a big deal. The Berry Patch earns real loyalty from the pet-owning crowd, and it’s one more reason this place has built such a devoted following over the years.
Clean Restrooms and Practical Amenities for Road Trippers
It sounds like a small thing until you’ve been on the road for three hours with a full car and no good options in sight. Clean, accessible restrooms are one of the most underrated features of any highway stop, and The Berry Patch consistently gets high marks for keeping theirs in good shape.
The facility includes indoor restrooms that multiple reviewers have described as clean and well-maintained. The property also added an outdoor restroom to handle overflow during busy periods, and there are port-a-potties at the far end of the building for extra capacity on high-traffic days.
It’s a practical solution that shows the management pays attention to visitor experience.
The entire property is handicap accessible, built on one level so there are no barriers for guests with mobility needs. The parking lot is spacious, which helps during peak summer weekends when the stop gets genuinely busy with beach-bound traffic.
Small details like this are what separate a forgettable pit stop from one that people recommend to friends. The Berry Patch clearly understands that hospitality goes beyond the food.
When every part of a visit feels comfortable and well-organized, people don’t just stop once — they stop every single time they drive by.
A Family Legacy That Turned a Farm Stand Into a Destination
Behind the giant strawberry, the homemade ice cream, and the overflowing produce bins is a family that built something genuinely special. The Berry Patch has been a fixture along US-220 in Ellerbe for years, and the warmth of the Berry family’s vision shows up in every corner of the property — from the rocking chairs to the hand-labeled jam jars.
Staff members are regularly described in reviews as friendly, bubbly, and genuinely happy to be there. That kind of consistent, positive energy doesn’t happen by accident.
It comes from a workplace culture rooted in pride and community, which the Berry family has clearly worked hard to maintain as the business has grown.
The website, worldslargeststrawberry.com, leans fully into the fun identity the family has built around their landmark sculpture. With a 4.8-star rating across nearly 3,000 reviews, The Berry Patch has earned its reputation not through advertising but through word of mouth and repeat visitors who keep coming back year after year.
Stories like this one — a family farm that planted deep roots and grew something extraordinary — are what make road trips worth taking. The Berry Patch isn’t just a stop along the way.
For thousands of North Carolina travelers, it has become a tradition, a landmark, and a little piece of home on the highway.