Del Rancho (Gone)
Shawnee, OK
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Check out the marquee for Del Rancho in Shawnee. It's the kind of sign that makes you want to pull off the highway and order one of the restaurant's famous Steak Sandwich Supremes before continuing down the road.

Del Rancho got its start in Oklahoma City in 1959 and quickly became one of the state's best-known regional drive-in chains. In 1964, founder J.R. Holt introduced the oversized Steak Sandwich Supreme, a hand-breaded chicken-fried steak that extended well beyond the bun and became an Oklahoma favorite. Early locations even featured telephone ordering systems, allowing customers to place their orders from their cars.

The Shawnee restaurant was one of the chain's longtime locations, and its distinctive roadside sign welcomed hungry motorists for many years. Like so many classic drive-ins, the combination of good food and an eye-catching sign made it a memorable stop along Oklahoma's highways.

UPDATE: The Shawnee Del Rancho is no longer in business, although the Del Rancho chain continues to operate at several locations across Oklahoma. 06-26

Murray's Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN
Photo courtesy Matthew Hands

If you're in the Minneapolis area, don't forget to check out Murray's Restaurant, home of the famous "Silver Butter Knife Steak." Since opening in 1946, Murray's has earned a reputation as one of Minnesota's premier steakhouses and a downtown dining landmark.

The restaurant occupies a historic nineteenth-century building, but one of its most recognizable features is the large neon sign added during a 1964 remodeling. Complete with a giant steak and bottle of wine, the sign has become nearly as famous as the restaurant itself, lighting up downtown Minneapolis for generations.

The Silver Butter Knife Steak remains the house specialty, a massive aged strip sirloin carved tableside that helped put Murray's on the culinary map. Whether you're stopping in for a special occasion or simply admiring the neon outside, Murray's is one of those classic restaurants that has stood the test of time.

UPDATE: Murray's Restaurant continues to thrive under family ownership and remains one of Minneapolis' best-known steakhouses. The historic building is still home to the restaurant, and the iconic neon sign continues to light up downtown. 06-26

Diamond Cafe (Gone)
Sapulpa, OK
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Diamond Cafe sign brings back memories of a Route 66 stop known as much for Norma Hall as for the meals. Norma and her husband, Bob, opened the Sapulpa cafe in 1950.

Her hospitality earned a place in Michael Wallis’ Route 66: The Mother Road. I was fortunate to stop for breakfast before the cafe closed. The coffee seemed weak after a long drive, but having Norma herself pour it more than made up for any missing caffeine.

UPDATE: The cafe is gone, replaced by Trikntrux in 2004. 10-10

UPDATE: After Norma’s passing in 2000, other operators briefly continued the cafe. The building was demolished in 2004, and the original sign has also disappeared. 06-26

Chuc Wagun (Gone)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Chris King

The Chuc Wagun gave Tulsa travelers more than burgers and onion rings to look forward to. Its covered-wagon-shaped building made this a roadside stop worth noticing before reaching the menu.

Opened around 1951, the restaurant attracted locals and Route 66 visitors, eventually adding a second Tulsa location. A little architectural imagination went a long way toward advertising lunch.

UPDATE: The original wagon-shaped building and sign are gone, and the site has been redeveloped. Chuc Wagun remains a memory of Tulsa’s more playful roadside restaurants. 06-26

Vans Pig Stand Shawnee, OK Photo courtesy Tony Craig Here's Van's Pig Stand in Shawnee, one of Oklahoma's true roadside institutions. The Shawnee location opened in 1930 and has been drawing hungry customers ever since with its famous barbecue and unmistakable roadside sign. Founded by Leroy "Van" Vandegrift, Van's Pig Stand became known for its slow-smoked barbecue, especially the trademark Pig Sandwich, along with its curly fries and "Vanized" potatoes. In 1935, the Shawnee restaurant moved across the street to the building it still occupies today, where generations of customers have left their names carved into the wooden booths. The vintage roadside sign is every bit as memorable as the food. Standing proudly out front, it has welcomed locals and highway travelers alike for decades and remains one of the best-known restaurant signs in central Oklahoma. UPDATE: Van's Pig Stand continues to operate from its longtime Shawnee location under family ownership, making it Oklahoma's oldest continuously family-owned barbecue restaurant. The historic building still stands, and the classic neon sign continues to greet customers nearly a century after the restaurant first opened. 06-26   Vans Pig Stand Shawnee, OK Photo courtesy Tony Craig Vans Pig Stand Shawnee, OK Photo courtesy Tony Craig