Maximillion's Muddy Puddles

10/09/2026

Oh hey! 👋 🍦

10/08/2026

Sometimes, the most meaningful acts of kindness happen quietly, behind the scenes. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Crouse Tree Service for their generosity and compassion. When we began Maximillion’s Muddy Puddles Foundation, our hope was to create something that would not only honor Maximillion’s memory, but also bring comfort and kindness to families navigating unimaginable loss. Having local businesses like Crouse Tree Service believe in that mission and step forward with such generosity means more than we can express. Thank you, Crouse Tree Service, for your kindness, your compassion, and your willingness to help us turn love into action.

10/05/2026

❓What is Hotel/Motel Tax Funding❓

A 7% Hotel/Motel tax is collected by the state of Iowa when visitors pay to stay in local hotels. A portion of that money is then distributed back to Indianola where 50% goes to the City and the other 50% is to be made available to qualifying nonprofits and community organizations or intergovernmental agencies under 28E agreements (that are like vendor contracts filed with the state) to be used for projects or programs that further promote tourism or provide recreational, cultural, or entertainment opportunities that help bring more visitors to Indianola.

In simple terms: visitors stay in our hotels → they pay a lodging tax → half of that money is reinvested into community projects that help attract more visitors.

Typically funds (~$50k-$25k) get distributed to Chamber, Mainstreet and Warren County Economic Development as examples to help support their events and programs. Organizations in receipt of funds a prior year must submit full accounting for how funds have been used with their current year application in order to be eligible again. Information about this process can be found in council policy docs online (on page 89) and within the Iowa Department of Revenue website.

This year over $200k was collected in hotel motel tax leaving over $100k to be distributed by the City via Council. We’re excited to share that Maximillion’s Muddy Puddles Foundation has submitted an application this year for Hotel/Motel Tax funding for the Indianola Children’s Memorial Splash Pad. We are confident in this amenity’s ability to generate new tourism and recreation here fitting the purpose of these funds, which would bring us closer to our next funding steps. We have been invited to present our project and funding request to the Indianola City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 12th, and invite others to explore this funding opportunity. Our use of the funds is for a rentable covered shade pavilion for gatherings and parties.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share how this project can serve our local families while also creating another reason for families from surrounding communities to visit, play, gather, and spend time in Indianola. 💙🧡

10/03/2026

Throughout September, so many of you chose to round up your purchases at Muddy Puddles Ice Cream, with those extra cents normally going toward the Children’s Memorial Splash Pad. This time, those round-ups will serve a different purpose. In light of the heartbreaking loss of a young member of our community this past week, the September round-up donations will be given directly to his family. We are deeply grateful to each person who rounded up in September.

We appreciate all of our customers contributions to Maximillion's Muddy Puddles for the month of September.

10/02/2026

🕊️ October is Child Loss Remembrance Month. For so many families, grief doesn’t belong to just one month. It is carried quietly through birthdays, holidays, milestones, ordinary Tuesdays, and all the moments when someone should still be there. This month, we honor every child whose life was far too short. We remember their names. We remember their stories. We remember the joy they brought into this world. We see the parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, and loved ones who continue to carry them in everything they do. At Maximillion’s Muddy Puddles Foundation, this mission is deeply personal to us. We know that a child’s life is not measured by how long they were here, but by the love they created while they were.

09/30/2026

Ya'll showed up! Bins are full again at Pete's
Use the back entrance and grab out of the COOLER today, with the rain and all🖤

Let's keep this going and COVER OUR TOWN in support of these families🖤

09/29/2026

More ribbon is available at Muddy Puddles Ice Cream while supplies last. More ribbon is being delivered tomorrow 🖤

09/29/2026

Ribbons are going fast. Bear with us as we fetch more ribbon!!! More available at 4pm and more being delivered tomorrow.

09/28/2026

Our hearts are incredibly heavy as our community mourns the tragic loss of an another young life.

There are simply no words that can ease the pain this family, their friends, classmates, neighbors, first responders and loved ones are carrying right now. From all of us at Maximillion’s Muddy Puddles Foundation, we extend our deepest condolences and are holding everyone who loved this young man close in our hearts.

In the coming days, we want his family to be able to look around our community and see just how many people are standing beside them.

🖤 We are asking our community to flood Indianola with black ribbons in his memory and in support of his family.

Black ribbons are free and will be available for pickup at Muddy Puddles Ice and Pete's Pizza tomorrow (Tuesday the 29th) Take one and tie it around a tree, light pole, mailbox, fence, or somewhere visible at your home or business.

May every black ribbon be a quiet message to this family: You are loved. You are surrounded. You are not walking through this grief alone.