Our Bigdog

Beginnings

Bigdog Snowcones began with a folding table, a snow cone machine, and a 185-pound Great Dane named George.

In 2020, after Ivey’s diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, our family found ourselves navigating a tough season. We were working in home improvement and raising two boys—Aiden and Ryder—who loved racing go-karts at their grandfather’s track, Shady Oaks Raceway. It was a passion we wanted to keep fueling, even as things got tighter financially.

A young boy wearing a pink shirt hands a green plate with a scoop of green shaved ice to a blonde woman behind a food stand window. The woman is smiling and wearing a red shirt and a smartwatch. Ice and drink bottles are visible inside the stand.

A black mobile food truck named 'BIGDOG SNOWCONES' with green lettering advertising 'Sweets & Eats,' parked outside on a sidewalk with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Blame It on

George

Julie had an idea: sell snow cones at the races. She ordered a basic machine and a few gallons of syrup from Amazon, set up next to the track, and ended up making over $100 that very first night. George was stretched out beside her the whole time, and as she handed out snow cones, she laughed and said, “Maybe I’ll call it Bigdog Snowcones.”

The name was a joke—but the idea stuck. And just like that, something fun and simple started turning into something much bigger.

Two men sitting on the curb with a large Dalmatian dog, a person feeding ice cream to the dog, and a food truck in the background.

A woman with long blonde hair smiling while sitting on the ground with two dogs. One dog, a Great Dane, is sitting on a raised platform and leaning towards her, while the other, a smaller dog, stands on the ground. The background has a display of colorful t-shirts hanging on a rack.

From Folding Table

to Food Truck

That little side hustle sparked a much bigger dream. Julie couldn’t stop thinking about what it could become, so we made it official. By May 2021, Bigdog Snowcones opened as a full-fledged food truck, setting up shop in front of Tractor Supply in Statesboro, GA during the week.

Locals were instantly curious. They’d stop to meet George, ask about the name, and find out what we were selling—often wondering if the snow cones were actually for dogs. (They’re not, but we do hand out free pup cups!) With over 100 flavors of shaved ice on the menu, people came for the curiosity and stayed for the treats.

A group of five people and two dogs standing in front of a black trailer with green text and a dog silhouette. The text reads, 'BIG DOG SNOWCON, HOME OF THE BIG DOG BRAIN FREEZE CHALLENGE.'

A young boy in a blue T-shirt is receiving a colorful ice cream cone from a smiling woman in a pink shirt through a food truck window.

Growing the

BIGDOG Brand

On weekends, we began attending festivals and events—and as demand grew, so did our offerings. What started with snow cones quickly expanded into a full food and dessert menu. Before long, folks all over town were calling us simply “BIGDOG.”

We’ve been honored with Best in the Boro Food Truck every year since we opened, and in 2021, we were proud to receive Startup Business of the Year from the Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce.

Flyer for BigDog SnowCones featuring images of dogs, children, and groups of people, with contact information and call to action for booking parties and events.

A young boy wearing a wide-brimmed hat and bright yellow sunglasses, smiling while holding a snow cone with blue syrup and a yellow straw. He is standing outdoors on a sunny day with a shopping area in the background.

Rolling into

the Future

In early March 2025, we hit another big milestone: our brand-new, state-of-the-art food truck hit the road. It’s bigger, better, and built to serve more of the community we love—from daily lunch spots to special events and everything in between.

Bigdog Snowcones has always been about more than just good food—it’s about family, perseverance, and making people smile. Thanks for being a part of our story. We’re just getting started.

Seven glass bottles containing colorful liquids with labels, set on a table against a window with an outdoor view of blue sky and clouds. The bottles have red and black caps with spout tips.

A man holding a young boy in front of a food truck with a woman leaning out of the window handing them a colorful snow cone.