This family-run mobile ice cream business covers remote Sterling neighbourhoods as well as a riverside summer market off Robinson Loop and a peony farm festival. Here is the verified history of Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise, the people who ran it, and the current state of affairs.
It operated in Sterling, Alaska, as an ice cream truck and frozen snack business. Throughout the summer seasons of 2016 to 2022, it covered the Kenai Peninsula. Many commercial vendors are unable to reach markets, community events, schools, and residential streets. The company does not trade at the moment. There has been no activity on its Facebook page since May 2022, @TJRScallywag.
- 1. What Was the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise?
- 2. AT A GLANCE
- 3. Sterling, Alaska in Summer: Why the Town Was the Right Setting
- 4. Who Ran the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise?
- 5. What the Jolly Rogers Ice Cream Truck Stocked
- 6. Where the Truck Operated: Markets, Schools, and Back Roads
- 7. What Customers Said About the Jolly Rogers Ice Cream Truck
- 8. The Sale Listing, the Final Season, and the Goodbye
- 9. Where Things Stand in March 2026
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise?
It was founded as a sole proprietorship on 30 July 2016 at 36297 Cottontree Lane, Sterling, Alaska 99672. A+ rating was assigned by the Better Business Bureau on 7 March 2019. We are not aware of any complaints. There is a fee associated with BBB accreditation. It is because of this that the A+ rating does not have an accreditation mark next to it.
There are two meanings to the name at once. There is a skull-and-crossbones flag on the truck, which gives it its branding and its Facebook handle. Besides Rogers being the family name, it is also the actual surname of the family. It wasn’t an external marketing overlay dropped onto the company. An advertisement on a truck bore the family name.
AT A GLANCE
| Founded | 30 July 2016 |
| Address | 36297 Cottontree Lane, Sterling, AK 99672 |
| Phone | (907) 394-0403 |
| tjr.icecreamtruck@gmail.com | |
| BBB Rating | A+ (not accredited) |
| @TJRScallywag | |
| Last public activity | May 2022 |
Sterling, Alaska in Summer: Why the Town Was the Right Setting
There are 130 miles of road between Sterling and Anchorage on the western Kenai Peninsula, approximately 11 miles north of Soldotna. There were 5,918 people living in the city at the time of the 2020 census. Located on the southern edge of the town is the Kenai River. A large portion of its eastern edge borders Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which covers nearly two million acres of protected wilderness. Kenai is Alaska’s most visited wildlife refuge.
In the summertime, the river fills the town with water. Fishing on the Kenai is popular among anglers from around the country and abroad, where salmon runs are at their peak from June through August. It was Les Anderson who landed the world record Chinook salmon, a fish weighing 97 lb 4 oz, on 17 May 1985. There are only three designated wilderness canoe routes in the United States, and one of them starts directly from Sterling. The Swan Lake and Swanson River canoe trail system covers over 120 miles. It is common for visitors and outdoor activities in Southcentral Alaska to go well into the evenings during June and July since there is a lot of daylight.
There is a stretch of four months when families spend full days beside one of the most famous salmon rivers in the world, along with thousands of visiting anglers and campers. It is for this environment that a mobile frozen treat operation was designed.
Who Ran the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise?
According to the BBB, Brent Rogers is listed as the registered owner. Throughout all five seasons, Maryanne Rogers ran every aspect of the operation. Each market date and event booking was handled by her, all customer communications were handled by her, and she ran the Facebook page @TJRScallywag. Using the pseudonym Captain Scallywag, she signed off on posts.
There were three children in the Rogers family whose name was Scallywags, as well as the name of the truck. Their involvement in the business began from the beginning, and they played a part in the branding as well as the cause of the truck’s subsequent failure.
What the Jolly Rogers Ice Cream Truck Stocked
All stock on the truck was prepackaged and prefrozen. There are no soft serve machines or cones that need to be hand-dipped. This allowed a single operator covering remote Alaskan roads to manage the entire setup without additional crew members.
| Product | Detail |
| Ice cream bars and sandwiches | Core daily stock |
| Popsicles | Including limited-run specialty varieties, described in a July 2021 post as “nationally sought after, hard to find” with no holds offered due to limited supply |
| Frozen Big Papa Dills | A frozen pickle novelty introduced in summer 2021 |
| Pickle pops | The only confirmed sugar-free option the truck carried |
| Hot dogs | Sold at community events including the annual Peony Festival |
| Snacks | General selection alongside frozen stock |
A camp chair rental service was also offered at the Soldotna Wednesday Market by Maryanne. Through the active years of the site, private bookings for parties and local events could be made by texting (907) 394-0403.
Where the Truck Operated: Markets, Schools, and Back Roads
A five-year period on the Kenai Peninsula saw the Jolly Rogers build their circuit gradually.
There was a regular public market in Soldotna Creek Park every Wednesday. During the summer months of June through August, the market runs along the Kenai River in downtown Soldotna each Wednesday from 11am to 6pm. This market has been running for over 15 years, and more than 60 vendors participate every week along with Levitt AMP music series. Several dates have been confirmed between May and late July 2021 for the appearance of the truck.
A truck like this was hosted by Gibbons Peony Farm, located at 35535 Ridgecrest Circle off Robinson Loop in Sterling, during the U-Pick Peony Festival in July 2021. Live music was provided by local performer Mike Morgan, food vendors sold goods, and cut flowers were available at a $3.00 per stem price during the two-day event. On the Kenai Peninsula, peony farming dates back to the 17th century, with a harvest window from mid-July to September when fresh-cut peonies from other parts of the world are largely unavailable. Sterling’s busiest outdoor gathering of the year found the truck at a farm event that attracts its own summer crowds.
According to Shawna Roberts Vlasak, school representative at K-Beach area schools, the truck visited the schools in September 2016.
A significant portion of the regular circuit consisted of Sterling residential neighbourhoods, located in remote areas.
What Customers Said About the Jolly Rogers Ice Cream Truck
We have six reviews on our Facebook page. There is unanimous recommendation from all six. In the period of August 2016 through April 2019, the reviews were posted. No editing has been done to these direct quotes.
In August 2016, Carrie Fairbanks told me that the truck came down a dirt road in Sterling “2 1/2 miles” to get to her family. There was a lot of excitement among the kids.”
The truck visited K-Beach in September 2016, helping students celebrate “their incredible behavior.” Shawna Roberts Vlasak wrote the following letter to thank it for visiting.
The owners are gracious and friendly and are always happy to host special events at a moment’s notice, according to Jamie Harper, October 2016.
I never imagined seeing an ice cream truck on our little road so far out of town, wrote Heidi Tomrdle in May 2018. There was so much excitement in my house! ”
It sits at 100% recommendation rate. There was no paid advertising for the business. We received every customer through word-of-mouth or through our Facebook page.
Trucks that drive 2.5 miles down a dirt road to reach a single family in rural Alaska are deliberately choosing the kind of operation they want to run. In five summers, people have repeated that choice, documented by those who experienced it and still seek this business out years after it closed.
The Sale Listing, the Final Season, and the Goodbye
The truck was unable to leave Maryanne’s house frequently due to family obligations on 3 August 2021. There was a sale of the business. It was clear that she preferred a buyer from the Kenai Peninsula, not someone from outside. While several outside offers had already come in, she was holding out for a local operator who could maintain the truck’s work in the communities where it had spent the past five years.
It was never announced that there would be a local sale.
It was the end of the season for 2021 on 31 August. Maryanne posted for the last time on 16 May 2022:
This week, our final Scallywag graduated from high school, so a change was in order. Over the past five years, we have received a lot of support from Peninsula Peeps. It is a blessing and a joy to be here.”
Since then, the page has not been updated.
Where Things Stand in March 2026
Since May 2022, there have been no public activities related to the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise. There are no customer reviews on the Yelp listing, which is live but unclaimed. Despite its A+ rating and clean complaint history, the BBB profile remains active.
For five summers, the business ran with no paid advertising, no fixed location, and no employees other than the Rogers family. A 100% recommendation rate was achieved when it closed in May 2022. There has been no announcement publicly regarding the reopening or transfer of ownership. You can only find out directly through the contact information on record.
- Phone: (907) 394-0403
- Email: tjr.icecreamtruck@gmail.com
- Facebook: @TJRScallywag
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise ice cream truck still open in Sterling, AK?
I don’t believe so, based on all the information that is available to the public. In May 2022, the final Facebook post was published. The business has not reopened, changed ownership, or returned to service since then. You can contact them directly at (907) 394-0403, which is the only active number still listed.
Who owned and operated the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise?
In BBB records, Brent Rogers is listed as the registered owner; his file was opened on 7 March 2019. Since the start of the company in July 2016, Maryanne Rogers has handled all operations, including market appearances, event bookings, and customer interaction through May 2022.
Where did the Jolly Rogers ice cream truck operate on the Kenai Peninsula?
The itinerary included stops at Soldotna Creek Park, Gibbons Peony Farm U-Pick Festival, K-Beach Elementary and K-Beach Middle schools, and residential routes around Sterling, including remote roads away from main highways. Trucks were rented for private events all over the Kenai Peninsula.
Was the Jolly Rogers Taste of Paradise available for private events and parties?
Over the course of its active years, yes. The business also provided private catering, with reservations handled by text to (907) 394-0403. In light of the fact that no public activity has taken place since May 2022, you can only confirm whether any services are still being offered by contacting that number or via tjr.icecreamtruck@gmail.com.
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