Dairy Queen (Demolished)
Evergreen Park, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 1995
The seasonal Dairy Queen in Evergreen Park served summer treats for more than 40 years. Its two walk-up windows drew lines long enough that employees sometimes had to tell customers not to stand in the street. Between the cones and the neon sign, this was a familiar neighborhood stop. 04-07
Plans for a year-round Dairy Queen Brazier briefly raised hopes in 1995, but construction stalled after the foundation and piping were installed. The bank took possession, and the old sign lost its neon before being painted dark blue.
UPDATE: The stand was demolished in January 1996, and the village purchased the property that year. A Chinese restaurant and CVS later occupied the redeveloped site. The sign is gone, leaving photographs of the place where summer customers once lined up for soft serve. 07-26
Dairy Queen
Huntington, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The old neon marquee at Dairy Queen in Huntington, Indiana, is a welcome find. While many vintage Dairy Queen signs have disappeared, this one still gives the seasonal stand plenty of character. Look closely at the bottom and you’ll find something especially neat: a neon sundae instead of the more familiar cone. 07-07
The walk-up stand keeps the experience simple, serving frozen treats with much of its older roadside appearance intact. The unusual sundae display makes the sign worth a photograph, even if you weren’t planning an ice cream stop.
UPDATE: The Huntington Dairy Queen remains open as a seasonal Treat location. Its vintage neon marquee and distinctive sundae design still welcome customers. It’s good to see an old stand keep both its summer routine and the sign that makes you look twice. 07-26
Happy Days Soda Shop (Closed)
Pinkney, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The name Happy Days Soda Shop promised a little fun in downtown Pinckney, Michigan. With its retro theme and old-fashioned ice cream parlor appearance, it looked like a fitting place to stop for a shake or sundae. Unfortunately, the business had already closed when this photograph was taken. 02-08
The short-lived shop served ice cream and frozen yogurt in surroundings inspired by the 1950s. It was one of those small businesses that borrowed from the soda-fountain era, hoping a little nostalgia would make a frozen treat taste even better.
UPDATE: Happy Days Soda Shop remains closed, and the fate of its themed sign has not been confirmed. This photograph preserves a glimpse of the little parlor and its cheerful name, even though the promised happy days didn’t last as long as customers might have hoped. 07-26
The Dari
Hebron, IL Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
If you're passing through Hebron, Illinois, it's hard to miss the retro roadside sign for The Dari. Sitting at the corner of two state highways, this longtime seasonal favorite has been drawing locals and travelers in for ice cream, burgers, and other summertime treats for decades. 08-10
The Dari has been serving the Hebron community since 1969 and continues to operate as a classic walk-up ice cream stand. Open during the warmer months each year, it's known for soft-serve cones, sundaes, dipped treats, Vienna Beef hot dogs, bratwurst, burgers, and other casual favorites. In 2024, the business changed hands, with the new owners pledging to preserve the name, menu, and nostalgic feel that generations of customers have come to enjoy.
The vintage roadside sign remains one of the stand's most recognizable features and is a great reminder of the days when independent dairy bars were a summertime staple in small towns across America. Fortunately, both the sign and the tradition continue today.
UPDATE: The Dari remains open as a seasonal roadside favorite under new ownership. The classic sign still welcomes customers looking for ice cream and other summertime favorites. 07-26
B&K Root Beer (Closed)
Kokomo, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
That frosty root beer mug is enough to make any roadside fan hit the brakes. B&K Root Beer in Kokomo, Indiana, still has one of the classic mug-shaped signs that helped make drive-ins so much fun during the golden age of roadside America. 12-08
The stand began life as an A&W drive-in in 1949 before becoming a B&K Root Beer. Over the years, it has continued serving root beer, coney dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and other drive-in favorites while remaining a popular stop for locals and travelers alike.
The mug-shaped sign remains the star of the show and is becoming an increasingly rare sight. Thankfully, this one is still standing and continues to welcome customers looking for a taste of a classic Midwestern drive-in.
UPDATE: B&K Root Beer was completely demolished and rebuilt with indoor seating for year-round dining. The frosty mug was taken down. 07-26
B&K Root Beer
Van Wert, OH Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Check out the neon at B&K Root Beer in Van Wert, Ohio. The giant frosty mug has been catching the attention of motorists along the historic Lincoln Highway for decades and remains one of the classic roadside signs in the Midwest. 12-08
Opened around 1955, B&K is one of those old-fashioned drive-ins where customers still pull into a parking space, place their order from the car, and have it brought out on a window tray. Homemade root beer served in frosted mugs is the specialty, along with Spanish cheese dogs, coney dogs, burgers, and other drive-in favorites.
Classic carhop drive-ins like this have become increasingly rare over the years, making places like B&K even more special. Thankfully, both the restaurant and its wonderful neon mug sign are still going strong.
UPDATE: B&K Root Beer continues to operate seasonally in Van Wert. The classic frosty mug sign still lights up the roadside and remains one of the area's best-known landmarks. 07-26
Taylor-Maid Frozen Custard (Closed)
Sandoval, IL Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
The pair of ice cream cones on the roadside sign makes Taylor-Maid Frozen Custard hard to miss when passing through Sandoval, Illinois. Located along U.S. Route 51, this seasonal drive-in has been a summertime favorite for generations, serving frozen treats and classic roadside fare. 08-10
Originally opened as Taylor-Maid Frozen Custard, the drive-in now operates as Annie's Taylor-Maid Drive-In while continuing the traditions that made it a local favorite. The seasonal menu includes frozen custard, shakes, burgers, crinkle-cut fries, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, and other drive-in classics. Customers order at the walk-up window before enjoying their meal at outdoor picnic tables or from their cars.
UPDATE: Annie's Taylor-Maid Drive-In is now permanently closed. The classic roadside sign has been gone since sometime prior to 2016. 07-26
Dairy Queen (Demolished)
Happy Days Soda Shop (Closed)
The Dari
Taylor-Maid Frozen Custard (Closed)
