Cheri-Top Drive-in
Muscatine, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Drive-ins are always fun and the Cheri-Top Drive-In is no exception. Located in Muscatine, this longtime roadside favorite has been serving customers since 1956 and remains one of the few places where you can still enjoy the classic experience of ordering from your car and having a carhop bring out your food.

Founded by Walter and Louise Kleist, the seasonal drive-in has become a local institution known for giant breaded pork tenderloins, homemade onion rings, crinkle-cut fries, and soft-serve treats. The small building, covered parking area, and vintage roadside sign create exactly the kind of atmosphere that many communities lost decades ago as national fast-food chains took over the landscape.

The sign itself is one of the highlights of the property. Topped with a pair of oversized cherries, it serves as a colorful reminder of the era when drive-ins relied on distinctive roadside advertising to catch the attention of passing motorists. It's the sort of sign that instantly tells you something fun is waiting up ahead.

UPDATE: The Cheri-Top Drive-In remains in business today and is widely recognized as Muscatine's last traditional carhop drive-in. The original building still stands, and the iconic cherry-topped roadside sign continues to welcome customers each season. 06-26

Princess Drive-in
Tahlequah, OK
Photo and info courtesy Greg West

The Princess Drive-In is located in the beautiful hill country south of Tahlequah, where the road starts winding toward Lake Tenkiller and the Arkansas line. This longtime roadside stop has been a favorite in that part of Oklahoma for burgers, fries, onion rings, and other classic drive-in fare.

The sign is definitely the star here. Standing along Highway 82, the vintage roadside marquee has the kind of straightforward, old-school look that made small-town drive-ins so easy to remember. No giant corporate branding needed here, just a good name, a good sign, and the promise of something hot off the grill.

The Princess has also been known over the years as Princess Restaurant, serving both local residents and lake travelers passing through the area. Its location near Lake Tenkiller made it a natural stop for boaters, campers, and road-weary travelers looking for a good meal after a day in the hills. 08-06

UPDATE: Princess Drive-In remains standing along Highway 82 south of Tahlequah, and the vintage roadside sign is still in place. The business has continued operating in recent years, though ownership and operating schedules appear to have changed at times. 06-26

Charcoal Oven (Gone)
Oklahoma City, OK
Photo courtesy Bill Jackson

The Charcoal Oven had been serving up charcoal-broiled burgers to Oklahoma City residents for nearly 60 years when this photo was taken. Opened in 1958 by David Wilson, the drive-in became a local institution known for its burgers, onion rings, hickory sauce, and the famous Chick-a-Doodle-Doo chicken sandwich.

Of course, the food was only part of the attraction. The restaurant's giant roadside sign, complete with its smiling chef and bold mid-century design, became one of the most recognizable pieces of roadside architecture in Oklahoma City. Sitting along Northwest Expressway, the sign spent decades drawing motorists into the drive-in during the height of America's car culture.

Unfortunately, the end was near. After nearly six decades in business, the property was slated for redevelopment and the restaurant was scheduled to close in September 2016. For many longtime customers, it marked the loss of one of the city's last surviving classic drive-ins. 09-16

UPDATE: The original Charcoal Oven closed on September 11, 2016 and the building was subsequently demolished. A revival of the restaurant opened at a different Oklahoma City location in 2021, but that operation permanently closed in 2025. Fortunately, the iconic roadside sign was saved and donated for preservation. Its exact current display status could not be independently verified. 06-26