That colorful sign, complete with the old "Taco Bell guy," made this Taco Bell one of St. Petersburg's best-known roadside stops. It wasn't just another fast-food restaurant, either. It was Florida's very first Taco Bell, opening in 1967 as the chain's 200th location.
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
If you grew up traveling old highways, this is probably what you picture when someone mentions Dairy Queen. Dairy Queen in Salisbury wasn't a modern fast-food restaurant. It was a little walk-up ice cream stand with a striped awning, a rooftop sign, and a vintage roadside marquee that practically begged you to stop for a cone on a hot summer afternoon. 11-10
Opened in 1950, the little stand managed to outlive countless newer Dairy Queen locations by simply sticking with what it did best. There were no burgers or chicken baskets here, just soft-serve cones, shakes, Blizzards, and all the familiar treats that made Dairy Queen a summertime tradition. It felt more like a neighborhood gathering place than a national chain.
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Of course, the real attraction for roadside fans was the signage. The rooftop script gave the building a classic 1950s look, while the freestanding marquee added another splash of vintage charm out by the street. Together they made this one of North Carolina's most recognizable Dairy Queens and a favorite stop for anyone who appreciated old roadside architecture. It's no surprise the restaurant even found its way into Luke Combs' 2022 music video for The Kind of Love We Make, where the nostalgic setting fit the song perfectly.
Unfortunately, that familiar look didn't last forever. In 2023, Dairy Queen's corporate office required the owners to remove both the rooftop sign and the roadside marquee as part of a system-wide branding update. The little ice cream stand is still there, but without those signs it just isn't quite the same roadside landmark that generations of travelers remember.
UPDATE: The Salisbury Dairy Queen continues serving treats from its classic walk-up stand, but the vintage rooftop sign and roadside marquee that made it a roadside icon have been removed. 08-26
Arby's Roast Beef (Gone)
Ft. Benning, GA Photo courtesy Kevin Powers
Long before Arby's traded its cowboy hat for modern logos, those giant neon hats were some of the most recognizable fast-food signs on the highway. Arby's Roast Beef near Fort Benning had one of the best. Rising high above Victory Drive, the oversized hat was kept in beautiful condition for years, complete with glowing neon and the familiar promise that "Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich Is Delicious." It was the kind of sign that made you look twice, whether you were hungry or not. 03-08
Located just outside the gates of the Army post, the restaurant welcomed a steady stream of soldiers, military families, and travelers passing through Columbus. While the food was familiar, it was the sign that made this location stand out. At a time when many of the original Arby's hat signs had already disappeared, this one remained a bright reminder of the chain's early roadside days.
Sadly, the restaurant eventually closed, and the famous cowboy hat came down with it. Another classic roadside landmark quietly disappeared, leaving only memories and photographs behind.
UPDATE: The original Victory Drive Arby's is gone, and its iconic cowboy hat sign has also disappeared from the Georgia roadside. 08-26
The giant cowboy hat at Arby's Roast Beef is hard to miss as you drive through Knoxville. Long before Arby's adopted its modern look, these towering neon hats became some of the chain's most recognizable roadside landmarks. Seeing one still standing today is enough to make any roadside fan smile. 05-08
What's especially unusual is that Knoxville is home to several of these vintage signs, making the city one of the best places in the country to see Arby's original roadside architecture. The glowing hat, bold lettering, and unmistakable silhouette still stand out against the traffic just as they did decades ago.
While many of the classic Arby's signs have disappeared over the years, Knoxville has managed to hold onto several of them. They're a reminder of a time when fast-food restaurants competed for attention with giant neon signs instead of digital menu boards.
UPDATE: Knoxville's vintage Arby's cowboy hat signs continue welcoming motorists today, making the city one of the best places to experience this classic piece of roadside Americana. 08-26
Frostop Restaurant
Baton Rouge, LA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
That giant root beer mug is almost impossible to ignore. Rising high above Government Street, it has been tempting hungry motorists to pull over for decades. Frostop Restaurant is one of those places that feels like it belongs on an old highway, where a great sign was often the best advertisement a restaurant could have. One look at that overflowing mug and it's easy to start thinking about an ice-cold root beer. 02-07
Opened in 1957, Frostop has managed to hold onto much of the charm that made these roadside drive-ins so popular during the 1950s and '60s. While the carhops are gone, the restaurant still feels wonderfully old-school. Step inside and you'll find burgers sizzling on the open grill, homemade root beer poured into heavy frosted mugs, and a vintage jukebox that's been entertaining customers for generations. It doesn't take much imagination to picture families stopping here after a long drive or teenagers making it part of a Friday night cruise through town.
Of course, it's the sign that keeps drawing roadside fans back. The oversized mug, complete with frothy foam spilling over the top, is one of the finest surviving examples of classic drive-in advertising anywhere in Louisiana. Day or night, it's the kind of landmark that catches your eye long before you reach the parking lot.
Frostop Restaurant
Baton Rouge, LA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Hollywood noticed, too. Frostop's wonderfully preserved exterior was featured in the 2015 film The Final Girls, proving that places like this still capture the look and feel of mid-century America better than almost any movie set could recreate.
There aren't many restaurants left where the sign is every bit as memorable as the food, but Frostop is one of them. Whether you're stopping for a Lot-A-Burger, a basket of onion rings, or simply a frosted mug of homemade root beer, it's easy to understand why this Baton Rouge landmark has remained a favorite roadside stop for nearly seventy years.
UPDATE: Frostop continues serving customers today, and its famous giant root beer mug remains one of Baton Rouge's best-loved roadside landmarks. 08-26
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Arby's Roast Beef (Gone)
Arby's Roast Beef
Frostop Restaurant
Frostop Restaurant
