Dorothy and Bill Harmsen were the most endearing sort of dreamers. They left his cushy pilot’s job and life in Minnesota for an old ranch in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She grew flowers. He tried woodworking. They settled on ice cream, opening the first Jolly Rancher Ice Cream Store in Golden on May 28, 1949. They look happy in the pictures.
Business was going okay that first summer. But ice cream doesn’t sell in the winter in Golden, so they pivoted to confections and the Jolly Rancher candy we know today was born.
The rest is history, as they say. Jolly Ranchers took off, eventually being sold to the Hershey Company in 1997, where they sit proudly today in a popular line of mass-market candies and treats.
[Golden History Museum & Park]
Jolly Rancher Started as an Ice Cream Store in Golden in 1949
Posted on October 3, 2022 | Updated on September 30, 2025
Paul Karolyi
Jolly Ranchers never forgot their Colorado roots. (Paul Karolyi; Screengrab of https://www.hersheyland.com/jolly-rancher, September 30, 2022)
Share article
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
A Day In Denver History
A Day In Denver HistoryJanuary 12
Remembering Denver's Barbecue Riot of 1898
And its full-circle moment at this year's National Western Stock Show
A Day In Denver HistoryNovember 6, 2025
Why Denverites Honor 'Daddy Bruce' Randolph Every Thanksgiving
He was a model for community-level philanthropy, serving families in need across the Mile High City.
A Day In Denver HistoryOctober 7, 2025
Denver Quiz: Mile High Hauntings
How well do you know Denver's spookiest spots?
A Day In Denver HistorySeptember 15, 2025
A Denver Landmark Celebrates 150 Years
Looking back at a century-and-a-half of one of Denver's oldest education institutions.
A Day In Denver HistorySeptember 8, 2025
The History of Denver's Evans School Building
How this historic building went from an elementary school to a modern beer hall and event space.
A Day In Denver HistoryAugust 4, 2025
Where Denver's Most Beautiful Greenspaces Came From
Here's how one man's touch shaped how we experience the outdoors today.
A Day In Denver HistoryJuly 22, 2025
Denver Quiz: Do You Know These Denver Mayors?
Mike Johnston marked the halfway point of his term as Denver mayor last night with his “State of the City” address, a peek into what he h...
A Day In Denver HistoryJune 18, 2025
The History of Lincoln Hills
Just in time for Juneteenth, History Colorado opened its updated exhibit on Lincoln Hills, one of the country’s first mountain resorts fo...
The latest in Denver
Denver, ExplainedApril 17
3 Colorado Teams Are In the Playoffs. Here's What You Need to Know.
Playoff games for the NBA, NHL, and NLL all start this month, and Denver is going to all three of them: the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Aval...
Keep It LocalApril 16
Inside the Bar Drag Queens Have Called Home Since 2006
How Hamburger Mary's became the destination for drag shows in Denver.
Keep It LocalApril 16
Denver’s Best Drag Shows
The success of Denver queens on the big stage goes to show that drag is alive and thriving in the Mile High. This is where you can go enj...
Food & DrinkApril 14
Massive New Peyton Manning-Inspired Restaurant Destination Proposed in Littleton
The Super Bowl 50 winner and Hall of Fame Broncos quarterback is partnering with Gastamo Group — the restaurant group behind Park Burger...
SponsoredApril 9
Best Colorado Online Casinos: Legal Sites, Top Picks & Bonuses
Looking for online casinos in Colorado? Here are the top legal options available to CO players in 2025, plus exclusive bonuses.
Keep It LocalApril 9
Why Denverites Love Esters
Esters Pub is one of Denver's best kid-friendly spots.
Keep It LocalApril 9
Kid-Friendly Denver Spots for a Beer and a Bite
It can be hard to find the right social space for people with kids — and their adult friends without kids — to meet up and hang out. But...
Keep It LocalApril 2
Why Denverites Love Mouthfuls Pet Supply
The mints, called Mouthfuls, were such a hit with local dog owners that Dempsey and Payne soon expanded into a full pet supply shop focus...
