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

Here's the marquee for the famous Diamond Cafe in Sapulpa. Better known to Route 66 travelers as Norma's Diamond Cafe, this humble roadside stop became one of the Mother Road's most beloved destinations thanks to the warm hospitality of owner Norma Hall.

Opened in 1950 by Norma and her husband, Bob, the cafe welcomed generations of locals, truckers, and Route 66 travelers looking for a good meal and a friendly smile. Norma's reputation spread far beyond Oklahoma, earning her a place in Michael Wallis' Route 66: The Mother Road. By the time she passed away in 2000, she had become the longest continuously operating cafe owner along Route 66.

I was fortunate to stop in for breakfast one morning before the cafe closed. The coffee seemed a little weak after driving hundreds of miles the day before, but any lack of caffeine was more than made up for by having Norma herself pour my cup. She was every bit as warm and welcoming as her reputation suggested. Seeing this sign always brings back a sense of nostalgia, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet her.

UPDATE: Norma's Diamond Cafe is now gone and was replaced in 2004 by a business called Trikntrux. 10-10

UPDATE: Following Norma's passing, the cafe briefly continued under other operators before closing for good. The building was demolished in 2004 and replaced by another business. The original Diamond Cafe sign is also gone from this location. 06-2

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

Off old Route 66 in Tulsa, Chuc Wagun served up burgers and onion rings to hungry travelers for years. What really made the place stand out, though, was its architecture. Rather than building an ordinary restaurant, the owners created one shaped like a covered wagon, making it one of the most distinctive roadside stops along Tulsa's stretch of the Mother Road.

Opened around 1951, the Chuc Wagun became a favorite with both locals and Route 66 travelers, eventually growing to a second Tulsa location. It was a perfect example of the days when restaurants competed for attention with bold signs, unique buildings, and a little imagination.

UPDATE: The original Chuc Wagun is long gone, and both the covered wagon building and its roadside sign have disappeared. Today, the site has been redeveloped, but longtime Route 66 enthusiasts still remember it as one of Tulsa's most unusual 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