Hills of Snow

We didn't see any Twistee Treats on our recent road trip, but we did eat a snowball served to us out of a building shaped like one, and it was a definite trip highlight. Hills of Snow, located in Smithfield, North Carolina, doesn't actually call their confections "snow cones," but just, "snow."

Opened in 1984 by Tom Hill (hence the name), the Hills of Snow building wasn't always shaped like it is now. It was originally just a regular structure, but a few years after opening, Hill personally built the snowball-and-cup-shaped building. There are also two smaller, mobile versions that sit in the parking lot behind the Big Ball (the family's name for the main structure) when they're not on the move.

I am literally never happier than when I'm eating or buying something from a building shaped like what it sells. I am absolutely obsessed with novelty architecture and I've managed to see a lot of the greats recently: Lucy the Elephant, the Big Duck, the Longaberger Basket, Orange World and—on this same trip—the Haines Shoe House and a Shell Gas Station. Hills of Snow probably isn't as well-known or historical as some of the others, but I love when people are clearly passionate about their products and don't take life too seriously.

The "snow" that you get from Hills of Snow is lighter, softer and fluffier than traditional shaved ice or granular snow cones. All of the syrups are made onsite—when they first opened they offered 20 flavors but now advertise 101 different choices. They serve "snow creams" (topped with sweetened condensed milk) and seasonal flavors, but I went with my standard lemon/cherry combo. It was delicious on its own, but even more so because it came from a building shaped like itself.