Phoebe Snapp's Taffy Craftsmen

Ben Gambin, Taffy Craftsmen

Ben Gambin, former central California resident, moved to Missouri only a few years ago. Here at Silver Dollar City, he got the unique opportunity to become a craftsman at Phoebe Snapp’s Taffy and never looked back. “I did not have any candy experience before this, so I took on a completely new challenge,” said Gambin. “It was fun and interesting learning how to make candy and present it. I learned from the absolute best.”

Gambin starts his day at Phoebe’s getting the shop ready to go. Each morning, he sets up his equipment, flavors and colors and starts the oven to warm up the taffy. “Every day, the taffy comes out a little differently,” said Gambin, feeding peanut butter taffy into a 1937 Model K candy wrapper, affectionately named “Gus” by the taffy makers. “You have to cool and pull it and try to get the right consistency every time. At the same time, you must be careful because the taffy could get too hard or too soft. It takes me about 30 minutes to make a batch!”

Gambin recalls a time when he first started making taffy and a young girl asked how much a singular piece cost – unknowingly holding a piece that he had created. “I was really moved because out of all the taffy, she picked one that I had made. She got her little purse to get her change out just for one piece. That’s when I realized I was doing something good.”

Ben appreciates the authenticity of the taffy made at Silver Dollar City. “The taffy flavors aren’t company flavors. They taste local and homemade,” said Gambin. “They aren’t super processed, it’s a subtle, homegrown thing. I like the freedom of being able to choose the flavors and try new things.” 

Gambin demonstrates his craft nearly every day at the shop on Main Street, where he enjoys the freedom of testing more than 100 homemade Silver Dollar City recipes along with his own inventions.