Clyde's Drive-in Restaurant
Sault Ste Marie, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Clyde's Drive-In has been serving customers in Sault Ste. Marie since 1949, and it's one of the most unique drive-ins you'll ever visit. It still offers carhop service, but what really makes this place different is the parking. Instead of pulling in nose-first, customers back into their spaces so they can enjoy a front-row view of the St. Marys River while they eat. If you're lucky, a massive Great Lakes freighter will glide past on its way to or from the Soo Locks. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 12-08
Founded by 19-year-old Clyde VanDusen, the restaurant began as a small stand near the Sugar Island Ferry and has remained in the family ever since. While it's grown over the years, it has never lost the old-fashioned drive-in experience that keeps people coming back every summer.
Clyde's Drive-in Restaurant
Sault Ste Marie, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The menu is full of drive-in favorites, but the signature item is the Big C burger, a hefty cheeseburger made with beef from a local butcher. Of course, burgers, fries, shakes, and carhop service are all part of the experience, but the setting is what makes Clyde's stand out. There aren't many places where you can enjoy lunch while watching oceangoing freighters pass just a few yards away.
The vintage roadside sign still welcomes visitors, and between the classic atmosphere and one-of-a-kind location, it's easy to see why Clyde's has remained a favorite for generations.
UPDATE: Clyde's Drive-In continues to operate seasonally along the St. Marys River. The classic carhop service, vintage roadside sign, and ship-watching experience are all still part of what makes this Upper Peninsula drive-in so memorable. 06-26
Clyde's Drive-in
St Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Clyde's Drive-In in St. Ignace is the perfect place to stop after crossing the Mackinac Bridge. This classic drive-in still offers carhop service, and the menu is loaded with burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes, and malts. If you're really hungry, order the famous Big C, a 3/4-pound burger that's been a customer favorite for years. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 12-08
This location opened in 1971 as the third Clyde's Drive-In in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, following the success of the original restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie. While times have changed, Clyde's has held onto the old-fashioned drive-in experience that makes places like this so much fun to visit. Pull into one of the covered parking spaces, place your order, and before long your meal arrives on a window tray just like it did decades ago.
Clyde's Drive-in
St Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The vintage roadside sign and blue carhop canopy are hard to miss from U.S. 2, making Clyde's a favorite stop for travelers heading to or from the Upper Peninsula. It's the kind of place that's been welcoming road trippers for generations, and it's easy to see why so many people make it part of their trip north.
One thing to remember before you stop—Clyde's is cash only, so come prepared.
UPDATE: Clyde's Drive-In remains open seasonally in St. Ignace. The vintage roadside sign, classic carhop service, and famous Big C burger continue to make it a favorite stop for travelers crossing the Mackinac Bridge. 06-26
Southside Drive-in (Gone)
Rushville, IN Photo courtesy Doug Harvey
Southside Drive-In was one of those hometown drive-ins that seemed to be part of everyday life in Rushville. The restaurant served generations of local families, although longtime residents may remember it by its original name, Miller's Drive-In. Many thanks to Doug Harveyfor info. 09-06
The drive-in was opened by World War II veteran Richard Miller and his wife, Lillian, who operated the business for nearly 50 years. During that time it became a popular place to stop for burgers, roasted chicken, and other drive-in favorites. Somewhere along the way the name changed to Southside Drive-In, but it remained a familiar sight on South Main Street.
Like many classic drive-ins, Southside eventually gave way to changing times. The Miller family later opened Miller's Family Restaurant, bringing an end to the drive-in after an impressive run. While the food and neon are gone, the building itself managed to survive.
UPDATE: Southside Drive-In is gone, and the historic neon sign has been removed. The building still stands, having been repurposed as Gettinger Family Custom Meats. 06-26
Glass Bowl Restaurant (Demolished)
Bexley, OH Postcard courtesy Michael Sekeres
The Glass Bowl Drive-in was one of the most unusual roadside restaurants ever built in central Ohio. Located on East Main Street in Bexley, this eye-catching drive-in opened in 1939 inside a building made almost entirely of glass block. Designed to resemble an upside-down champagne glass, it was impossible for motorists traveling along the National Highway (Route 40) to miss. Many thanks to Michael Sekeres for info. 02-09
Entrepreneur Maurice Sher created the restaurant to stand out, and it certainly did. Brothers Christ and Gus Tsitouris purchased it in 1948 and continued serving customers for another twenty years. Imagine those glass blocks illuminated after dark.
UPDATE: The Glass Bowl closed and was demolished in 1968. A Penn Station East Coast Subs restaurant now occupies the site, with nothing remaining of the distinctive building. 06-26
Clyde's Drive-in Restaurant
Clyde's Drive-in
Clyde's Drive-in
Southside Drive-in (Gone)
