It is expensive but I would bike there take 20 dollars and convert to coins and play the racing game for hours so fun people are nice owner is rude but other people who work there are nice fun mini golf read more

The pricey part was expected (we're on an island), but this place simply had too many faults. The water wasn't running on the course to create any decent ambiance while playing, it just looked like a run down putt putt. Way too many holes where the actual holes were misshapen or had odd lips on them. But the real ridiculous penny pinching was the drinks and ice cream. No sharing (+$3 for another spoon...come on), can't pour a drink into a cup unless it's outside (asking for cups to split a Gatorade between my kids and apparently wasn't trusted enough to pour liquid into two cups inside), no water fountain......I'll stop. No I won't. The laughable part was charging $8 for an iced coffee and getting the sheer amount of ice that was in the cup in the picture. There were 4 sips of actual beverage in this cup. The picture was taken after it was finished and the ice had a couple minutes to melt. Small businesses have been through it recently. I get it. That's no excuse. Be transparent. There were simply too many things wrong about this place operating in season, I felt the need to write this review. I sincerely hope they right the ship and make it a true destination. Everything leading up to going to the island and having fun with the kids was great. Fingers crossed. read more

Whale's Tale - Iced.........coffee? - Mini Golf Near Me - Shelter Island, New York

Looking at some reviews from last summer, I'm less surprised that a round of mini golf was $15+ per person. It looks like they have made a lot of improvements to the course in the last 12 months. The greens are back to normal and do not look like the photos below anymore, including that 18th hole, which has been revamped and now has a proper target at the end. I appreciated the wheel at three of the holes. Each player spins the wheel and must do the task you land on (such as putting between your legs, hitting the ball with the handle of your club instead of the head, swapping ball locations with someone else, etc) which was an inventive, inexpensive-for-them addition that changed it up a bit. I could've used more of those. Everything inside was expensive, too. Water was $3 or $3.50, gatorade $4. However they also had a bunch of stuff on steep sale, so we bought a solar onesie for my baby that changes color in sunlight for just $5, and a little sailer hat for him for just $2. read more

We are absolutely obsessed with this place! We hosted our post-wedding brunch here and it was the perfect, family-friendly spot to close out our weekend. The kids and the adults all had a blast! Erich was fantastic to work with, made the planning process so easy, and was a gracious host to all of our guests. He pulled out all the stops in terms of having the space ready for us and provided anything and everything that we could have asked for. The ice cream and treats are all delicious to boot! We have a house just down the road and plan to be back every weekend next summer! Thank you so much for everything! read more

I went out to take my little brother out for some ice cream for his birthday and when I came in the store, I was greated by one of the employees in the counter serving ice cream, we got chocolate chip cookie dough, and salted caramel brownie. The service from the employees was great, but the only issue I had with whales tales was the owner of the store. When I asked for some napkins for me and my brother he told me that it was one per customer, my brother is five years old so they tend to be a bit messy so I asked if I could have some more for him, he agreed but proceeded to provide the napkins with a bad attitude. I will be coming back for the ice cream even though I had that bad experience but hopefully have a different experience overall in the near future. read more

We came here with our kids and had a great time! There are precious few family-friendly, low key places to entertain kids out on the East End and this place is great. It's been a local landmark for the few decades and feels like the places I grew up going to as a kid growing up on Long Island. The proprietor, Eric, was friendly and works hard keeping the place running smoothly. We played our 18 holes and threw down some cones and will definitely come back the next time we come through Shelter Island. read more

Whales Tale could use some renovations but overall cute spot for a quick stop for ice cream! The place is charmingly cute, and the ice cream is a solid 3/5 - bursting with flavors. The staff is incredibly sweet and friendly, making the experience even better. A must-visit for exceptional ice cream and a game of mini golf read more

Whale's Tale - Cute way to display cones :) - Mini Golf Near Me - Shelter Island, New York

Owner is extremely rude and smart-ass with customers. Came here with the grandkids a few weeks ago and the young man behind the counter was great. He wouldn't give me his name but besides that, ice cream was great. read more

Really cute retro little spot to satisfy any sweet craving. I love how they offer arcade games and mini golf. It makes you feel like this is the place to be. Truly reminds you of being a kid in the 80's where everything is simple and fun! read more

I understand that times are tough and what businesses are going through during these times. Honestly, I do. I don't want to sound snobbish, but I was shocked that it cost $75 for a family of six to mini-golf. But, hey, we're on an island, times are tough, we're vacationing, so it is what it is. But then, when we look at the course, well, it's almost like being on an abandoned mini-golf course. The greens are torn up, concrete is crumbling, the lamp posts are painted only as high as a ladder, and the rules everywhere! Everything has rules of what you can't do. I'm okay with rules, but at some point, as crazy. As I said, we are still going through a pandemic, and I understand it's expensive to maintain a course so that things can be rough. But jacking up the prices to $12.50 a person for a course that's not been maintained in decades is ludicrous. read more

Whale's Tale - This is the 18th hole. Literally a Home Depot bucket with bricks on top. Note the "water feature" and greens. - Mini Golf Near Me - Shelter Island, New York

We had an event at the Whale's Tale, and it was absolutely perfect! Erich was so accommodating to all our needs, and our guests had the best time. read more

Old, outdated, doesn't accept credit cards, points you to their ATM and tells customers they have to take their ice cream outside to eat at tables that have not been cleaned. Very disappointed. Ice cream is basic Hershey's, nothing to write home about. read more

Great family fun and almost too many ice cream options! Eric and his team were patient and friendly. We'll definitely come here again.

Dirty, expensive, greedy attitude. Nobody cares. Unwelcoming - greedy owner makes it clear that he wants as much cash as possible from you. 90% of the signage screams NO CREDIT CARDS! Ancient arcade games, poorly maintained, dirty operation. Please avoid - unsafe, unsanitary, and the owner serves you two spoonfuls of coffee and 12 oz of ice in a cup - you feel every inch of penny pinching cheapness designed to squeeze every ounce of cash from your family's wallet. read more

So thankful that Waze took us off route to avoid traffic! We stumbled upon this great ice cream & mini golf place. The manager was super accommodating, made us a really good espresso and was pleasant to talk with. Will definitely go back!!!! It's nice to know I have to a place to take the kids when on Shelter Island. read more

If you are shelter island, the only place for ice cream is Whales Tales!! Putt putt, tennis or some cool arcade games!! Definitely a place to come for great ice cream and fun!! The owner will treat you right! read more

Whale's Tale - a man holding an ice cream cone - Mini Golf Near Me - Shelter Island, New York

Disgusting. We paid 20 dollars to play mini golf which is extremely over priced especially considering we had to skip many of the holes due to dear poop and many of the greens being ripped up. Worst mini golf experience ever. When telling the man inside the store of the conditions he could care less. Would not come back it was a waste of money. read more

No maintenance has been done in years, the place is falling apart. I loved this one place 7-8 years ago and can't believe how they let it go. read more

I am all for supporting local businesses but I do not appreciate when my good intentions are taken advantage of. Whale's Tale offers family fun on an island with limited options, but customers pay much for it, in both money and attitude. Renting the golf equipment is overpriced and your money feels like it evaporates in the arcade. There is a machine that provides quarters, which is convenient. A small bottle of water cost $3. After that, I was glad my kids didn't want ice cream. There was only 1 person working the place, so expect to wait even if you are just the 2nd customer in line, which can be an issue with young children who are eagerly waiting to play. Even while I was the only one in the store, I still had to wait while facing a framed sign next to a little bell saying something along the lines "Wait, we'll be right with you"! This happened twice! The (only) guy serving was not the friendliest; it was like he did not want to be there and that customers were annoying him. He also insisted on customers paying cash. The place is equipped to take credit cards, despite a sign noting that only cash is accepted. The mini golf course was decent and the whole place is basically maintained, in- and outdoors. However, there is little shade in the golf course, so it can get uncomfortable during a hot summer day. Go prepared with your sun protection gear. Older photographs show more trees, but apparently they have been removed. The kids were sweating after one round, but they had fun and hit it off with other friendly visitors. Eating or drinking indoors is not allowed. In conclusion, I plan to explore different entertainment options on a possible future visit to Shelter Island. read more

I love Whales Tales and have been going for years, great ice cream flavors & service, highly recommended over Tucks if you're on Shelter Island. read more

$10 a player, but ambiance is unbeatable. The weirdest playlist is played while golfing, a total mix of classics and random songs that many of us literally never heard before but enjoyed thoroughly. Note that this place is cash-only, but it's a total stalwart of Shelter Island. Plus free Wifi! read more

This place is great all the bad reviews are me and my family really enjoyed this course and highly recommend it!!!

You know when you think of mini golf as a child of the 80s and you imagine plaster animals painted in bright colors, Tears for Fears playing in rotation and Hershey's ice cream with sprinkles? The Whale's Tale is that vacation dream of the 80s come alive. But now with WiFi. read more

My dad came here last night to pick up ice cream for the family, and after hearing his experience, I was so annoyed that I knew I had to warn my fellow Yelp users. Upon walking into the shop, there was not a soul in sight. After ringing the bell a few times and getting no response, my dad was probably thinking the zombie apocalypse had hit in the 5 minutes it took him to drive from our house to the shop. Finally, someone emerged from the back (my dad thinks he was probably the owner). My dad, trying to make friendly conversation, said that he was getting ice cream for the family and couldn't get it from IGA because it was closed. The owner, Little Miss Sunshine, snapped that his ice cream was far better than what we'd get at IGA. My dad asked how much a container of ice cream would cost. Well, you can imagine my dad's shock when the owner answered that ONE (1) container cost EIGHTEEN (18) DOLLARS! You'd think that this ice cream was crafted by the hands of God himself, or that upon tasting this ice cream you would reach full enlightenment. My dad expressed, as any normal human being would, his surprise at this price. The owner launched into an aggressive tirade about how he has to pay for trucks to take the ferry to deliver his supplies, blah blah blah. I am honestly mad at my dad for not walking out of there after being met with such a nasty attitude, but instead spending half his retirement savings on a few containers of ice cream. And honestly, the ice cream was fine. I enjoyed the chocolate moose tracks. But it certainly wasn't something to write home about. I didn't take a bite of it and immediately think, "gee, I'd walk to the ends of the Earth to eat this ice cream!" or "wow, my third eye has opened after having tasted this godly creation!" I could've spent a quarter of the price on grocery store ice cream that would've satisfied my craving. My advice: save yourself the stress of interacting with a rude owner and don't break the bank for a family ice cream night. Just go with the store-bought ice cream. read more

The ice cream is great!!! The staff is super friendly. It's an annual tradition that can't be missed. Just left and already looking forward to next summer!!! read more

As others have stated, it's expensive here. I get that it's a small, semi-exclusive island. I get that this place is the only mini golf outlet available. But c'mon. It's Hershey's ice cream for crying out loud! It would be one thing if they were making it themselves or carrying some high-end brand, but that's not the case. Having the upper hand on the supply/demand dichotomy is one thing, but price gouging your customers like this is just insulting. Sorry, Whale's Tale. You fooled me once! read more

If you enjoy mini golf then this is the place for you. It's especially fun on a warm summer's evening. The music is always excellent. A good retro mix of 70's and 80's funk and soul. Disco and R&B. The place is run by a really nice guy with a really nice face. There's nothing that's wrong with the place. Good ice cream after the game. Go. Enjoy. read more

Great ice cream and service. Cute little place for miniature golf. Didn't have time for it but the kids did enjoy the Flintstone themed pay per ride cars. A bit pricey but hey it's on an island so this much is expected. $16.88 for a kiddie scoop of strawberry ice cream on a rainbow sprinkle cone, and 2 single scoop cones. read more

I want to love this place. I have been coming to SI for over 20 years, and I'm thrilled this place is still going. However... does the dude behind the counter hate his customers?! He actually criticized me for the cone I picked for my kids! I'm not kidding. I also had agita from all the signs about rules! Don't do this. Do that. Push in all chairs. "rules for guests..." Etc etc. I LOVE Shelter Island. But this dude just seems to really detest his customers. ----also--why does the music need to be SO LOUD?!?!?! Couldn't talk to anyone anywhere near the place. ------ as I think more and more about our experience here this summer and last... I really think the owner needs to hang it up and find something else he loves. Which isn't kids! read more

Nice owners tasty ice cream and honors odd requests for how you want your ice cream cones. And the mini golf is good too read more

Not a lot of choices on Shelter Island, but I thought Tuck Shop was better ice cream (and fairer prices). You come here if you have kids, limited entertainment options, and not concerned with dropping some coin.... read more

Whale's Tale - Small cone.....$6.50......very disappointed - Mini Golf Near Me - Shelter Island, New York

Amazing ice cream and service! We spent the day biking shelter island and came across this gem, so happy we did!

Best time spent on Shelter Island! My family has been coming here for decades now and Whale's Tale is as good as it gets on weekends in the Summer. Mini-golf is always fun for the whole family, especially when you finish a round with their delicious cones and milkshakes. read more

Brought our family up for the weekend had an amazing time. The food was amazing and the ice cream was delicious! Lots of fun things to do there. Highly recommend it. The ice cream man was hilarious! Crack us up the whole time. read more

Another fun night at Whales Tale. Mini Golf and Hershey's Ice cream for a Moose Tracks fix is a must do every summer on Shelter Island. Owner was super accommodating considering we bombarded him at closing time! Really nice guy!! See you next year Whales Tale. read more

I love this place! The owner is super nice and the "Only 8" ice cream is great! For the people complaining about the price, look around! Everything on the East End is expensive! It costs alot to get supplies shipped out here and then on top of that, the trucks have to pay ferry fees! I saw someone say that the owner was rude, but every time I've been there he was very friendly, even to one woman in front of me who was extremely rude to him. read more

I hate to give a bad review bc it's so charming and the mini golf looks great altho it has signs posted everywhere that they charge $$ for lost balls. BUT ice cream for 6 with three of them kids cones cost $43. They CHARGE for cones and when asked about this unusual practice, we got a very angry and defensive answer from the owner. Not worth it for plain ol Hershey's ice cream. read more

Save your money. $9.50 per person for a lack luster course. No children's rate? The place is in disrepair. Not to mentioned overpriced ice cream. To give you an idea, it cost $35 to take our 3 year old, with a cup of ice cream. This place could be so much better. We will not be going back. read more

We go here every summer we visit. Great spot for adults and kids. Good ice cream too.

It's a very magical place nestled between the north and south shore. A little oasis that has great service and very interesting conversation by the barista/owner. Came it late on a Sunday and made us feel right at home and the cannolis are homemade and are the freshest tasting. Many family friendly activities in the back including mini golf, arcade games and a small gift shopping inside. read more