REGULATIONS IN OUR AREA, VISIT KMBC.COM. NOW, IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO COOL OFF WITH A COLD TREAT THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP ONE THAT ORIGINATED RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY. THE BOMB POP. IT’S TURNING 70 THIS YEAR AND KMBC DOWNS DORISSA WHITE IS LIVE WITH MORE ON HOW THE BOMB POP HAS TRANSFORMED OVER THE YEARS. DORISSA. THAT’S RIGHT, LAUREN KELLY. AND IT’S SO HOT TODAY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WILL COOL YOU OFF A BOMB, POP? AND WHAT’S EVEN BETTER IS TWO BOMB POPS. AND THAT’S RIGHT, THEY ORIGINATED RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY. NOW, THE ORIGINAL BOMB POP WAS INVENTED IN KANSAS CITY 70 YEARS AGO, CREATED ON JULY 30TH, 1955 BY DES ABERNATHY AND JAMES MERRITT. THEIR CREATION CAME DURING THE COLD WAR, AS THE BOMB POP WAS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A BOMB WITH SIX FINS, WHICH INSPIRED THE NAME. WE SPOKE WITH BILL FOLEY, OWNER OF KC ICE CREAM CO, ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE ICONIC TREAT. IT WAS SOMETHING NEW, BRAND NEW IN THE IN THE ICE CREAM INDUSTRY, A BOMB POP AND THEY TOOK IT FROM THE WAR AND THEY HAD ORIGINALLY. THERE’S PICTURES OF GUYS PARACHUTING IN WITH A RIFLE AND A BOMB POP. AND THAT WAS THE INITIAL THING. BUT OVER THE YEARS, SMALL CHILDREN AND NOW THEY’RE LIKE ME. NOW, OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOMB POPS MADE LIKE THIS SUGAR FREE ONE. BUT HIS FAVORITE IS THE ORIGINAL ONE.
Happy birthday, Bomb Pop! Iconic frozen treat created in Kansas City turns 70
Updated: 5:23 PM CDT Jul 2, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
A sweet staple of the summer is celebrating a major milestone this month. The iconic Bomb Pop popsicle turns 70 this year. For decades, it’s offered a bit of relief on hot summer days to sweet treat lovers around the country. But it actually got its start in Kansas City. The original Bomb Pop was created on July 30, 1955, by D.S. Abernethy and James S. Merritt. Their creation came during the Cold War. The Bomb Pop was designed to look like an actual bomb with six fins, which, of course, inspired its name. Bill Foley, owner of KC Ice Cream Co., remembers the popsicle’s early days. “It was something new, brand new, in the ice cream industry, a Bomb Pop,” Foley said. “And they took it from the war. Originally, there’s pictures of guys parachuting in with a rifle and a Bomb Pop.” KC Ice Cream Co. is one of the biggest ice cream suppliers in the Midwest, and Foley said the Fourth of July is Bomb Pop central. “There’s been 30 or 40 different variations of the Bomb Pop, but the red, white and blue, especially for the Fourth of July, is the big seller,” he said. The classic, which is cherry, lime and blue raspberry, is a fan favorite, but for popsicle fans who want to try something new this year, the brand offers different flavored Bomb Pops, like Berry Burst or Hawaiian Punch, which feature different colors. The brand even has a new, sour Bomb Pop. Whatever flavor is your favorite, the Bomb Pop’s birthday and the Fourth of July holiday might be the perfect time to enjoy one.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A sweet staple of the summer is celebrating a major milestone this month.
The iconic Bomb Pop popsicle turns 70 this year. For decades, it’s offered a bit of relief on hot summer days to sweet treat lovers around the country.
But it actually got its start in Kansas City.
The original Bomb Pop was created on July 30, 1955, by D.S. Abernethy and James S. Merritt. Their creation came during the Cold War. The Bomb Pop was designed to look like an actual bomb with six fins, which, of course, inspired its name.
Bill Foley, owner of KC Ice Cream Co., remembers the popsicle’s early days.
“It was something new, brand new, in the ice cream industry, a Bomb Pop,” Foley said. “And they took it from the war. Originally, there’s pictures of guys parachuting in with a rifle and a Bomb Pop.”
KC Ice Cream Co. is one of the biggest ice cream suppliers in the Midwest, and Foley said the Fourth of July is Bomb Pop central.
“There’s been 30 or 40 different variations of the Bomb Pop, but the red, white and blue, especially for the Fourth of July, is the big seller,” he said.
The classic, which is cherry, lime and blue raspberry, is a fan favorite, but for popsicle fans who want to try something new this year, the brand offers different flavored Bomb Pops, like Berry Burst or Hawaiian Punch, which feature different colors. The brand even has a new, sour Bomb Pop.
Whatever flavor is your favorite, the Bomb Pop’s birthday and the Fourth of July holiday might be the perfect time to enjoy one.