Editor's note: Muncie Origins is a Ball State Daily News series profiling various businesses that originated in Muncie.
Customers can sit back and recline in lawn chairs, sink their toes into the sand and relax by the roar of a waterfall in the distance at Muncie's own tropical oasis.
The Island is a locally-owned, tropical-themed smoothie shop located right off the Cardinal Greenway on McGalliard Road. Opened in 2008, The Island is known for its all-natural smoothies made with real fruit and no artificial sweeteners.
Roger Conatser, owner of The Island, originally came up with the idea for the shop when he was making smoothies with his daughter in their kitchen at their home on the Cardinal Greenway.
“She saw a couple people walk by on the Greenway and said that we should make smoothies for those people,” Conatser said.
After the idea was born, Conatser contacted the managers of the Cardinal Greenway and asked if he would be able to build a concession site. Five years later, The Island opened its doors for the first time, and the rest is history.
Conaster is a photographer, and drew on the scenery he's visited to help create the tropical feel of The Island.
"I used to travel to Jamaica a lot to do photography, so the tropical setting was pretty easy to do," he said.
The island is known for their cool, icy smoothies. There are a variety of flavors to choose from, including strawberry, mango, caramel green apple and peach. Conatser recommends his favorite, the “APB,” made from acai berries and pomegranate.
Lyndsay Lehr, a sophomore at Ball State, recently tried The Island for the first time.
"I tried the mango smoothie, and it was delicious. You could definitely tell the smoothie was made with real fruit," Lehr said.
The Island also serves other sweet treats, such as ice cream and brownies, as well as the classic Jamaican dish of jerk chicken.
Though the icy treats are a big draw, the atmosphere is what is really unique about The Island.
"You can get a smoothie for a dollar or two at McDonald's, and I guess you could sink your toes into the concrete," Connaster said. "The atmosphere of being in a tropical setting really sets us apart from other places around town."
The feeling that one is taken to a tropical paradise is instantaneous. With palm trees, colorful beach chairs and a roaring waterfall, the Island feels far removed from Midwestern life.
The Island also hosts many different events throughout the season. Since opening its doors, the Island has hosted weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, graduation parties, and even music video shoots.
For those wanting to take a trip to this local paradise and try out a tasty smoothie, do so soon. The Island is a seasonal shop and will be closing for the season toward the last week of September. The Island is open every day, excluding Mondays, from 5 p.m. until dark.
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