There is something special about walking into a locally owned business where you immediately know the owner poured their heart into every detail.
That was exactly my experience when I sat down with Rachel Bateman, owner of Haunted Scoops in Great Falls.
From the moment you walk through the door, you realize this isn’t just another ice cream shop. It’s an experience.
The walls, décor, names of the menu items, and the playful Halloween theme create an atmosphere that’s more Casper the Friendly Ghost than horror movie. It’s fun. It’s family-friendly. And it’s unlike anything else in Great Falls. Rachel intentionally wanted to create a place where people of all ages could smile, laugh, and enjoy great ice cream together.
A Dream More Than a Decade in the Making
Although Haunted Scoops officially opened this spring, the dream behind it has been years in the making.
Rachel shared that she had envisioned owning an ice cream shop for more than ten years. Originally, it was going to be a traditional old-fashioned parlor. But somewhere along the journey, inspiration struck.
Instead of blending in, why not create something people would remember?
The result is Haunted Scoops—a place where Halloween lives year-round, ghosts are friendly, and every visit feels a little different than the last.
Creativity Never Stops
One thing that stood out during my visit was Rachel’s passion for creating.
She isn’t content serving the same menu week after week.
Instead, Haunted Scoops is constantly experimenting with new flavors, giving customers something fresh to look forward to every time they stop in. Regulars know there’s always a chance they’ll discover a new favorite, and that’s become part of what makes the shop so much fun.
It also reflects something I’ve noticed about many successful local entrepreneurs—they’re always asking, “How can we make this even better?”
That willingness to keep creating keeps customers coming back.
More Than Ice Cream
The ice cream is certainly the star of the show, but the atmosphere is what turns first-time visitors into repeat customers.
Families gather around the tables.
Kids point excitedly at the colorful decorations.
Friends laugh while trying flavors they’ve never heard of before.
It’s easy to see why Haunted Scoops has quickly become a destination instead of simply a place to grab dessert.
Rachel’s background in dairy farming and her passion for making small-batch ice cream shine through in every scoop. The attention to quality is evident, and the experience feels intentionally local from beginning to end.
Building Community One Scoop at a Time
One of the reasons I enjoy doing these stories is because they remind me that every local business begins with someone willing to take a chance.
Behind every storefront is a family.
Behind every product is a story.
Behind every successful business is someone who believed our community was worth investing in.
Rachel has done exactly that.
She took a dream that had been sitting on the shelf for years and turned it into something that is bringing joy to families across Great Falls.
That’s what local business is all about.
🎥 Video Interview
Watch my visit with Rachel Bateman as she shares the story behind Haunted Scoops, how the business came to life, and why they’re creating new flavors every week for the Great Falls community.
Visit Haunted Scoops
If you haven’t stopped by yet, I encourage you to check them out.
Whether you’re looking for a classic favorite or one of Rachel’s newest creations, you’ll find more than just ice cream—you’ll find a local business owner who genuinely loves what she does.
And that’s exactly the kind of business we love highlighting at We Are Local.
Sometimes the sweetest stories in our community are served one scoop at a time. 🍦👻
