Who doesn’t love chocolate, right? Well I’m sure there are a few of you out there. But for everybody else, a visit to Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Henderson, just south of Las Vegas is a must.
Back in 1911, Ethel and Frank Mars started making butter cream chocolates from scratch in their own Tacoma, Washington kitchen. Frank Mars went on to create the world renowned Mars Inc. Company in 1919
Forrest Sr, who was Ethel and Frank’s son of course had a taste for fine chocolate and also worked at Mars Candy Company.
After Forest Sr retired from Mars, he started Ethel M Chocolate in 1981. Forrest Sr. named his gourmet line of chocolates in honor of his beloved mother Ethel, and utilized chocolate recipes he had learned from her.
Many of Ethel’s original milk and dark chocolate recipes are combined with the finest nuts, fruits, caramels, creams and liqueurs to create the more than 50 varieties of gourmet candy sold today.
Just after they began their business, Forrest Sr. and his wife lived above the Ethel M factory.
Forrest Sr.’s wife wanted her own garden. But the challenge facing them was how to build one in the harsh Nevada desert.
Once simple option that came to mind was creating a cactus garden. So now guests can stroll through a beautiful, two-and-a-half-acre Botanical Cactus Garden that includes about 350 different species of cactus and various desert plants.
During your visit, you can enjoy free samples and an informative guided tour. Learn all about the gourmet chocolate making process by watching video monitors and placards placed outside each viewing window.
There are numerous Ethel Chocolate retail stores in Las Vegas. Check the web site below for a complete list.
Ethel M Chocolates creates specialty chocolates like nobody else, and is the official “chocolate of choice” for the Emmy’s.
Luckily for all of us chocoholics, the Mars family tradition of producing top quality chocolates lives on for all to enjoy.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory
1 Sunset Way
Henderson, Nevada
Tel: (888) 627-0990