Town & Country Drive-in (Demolished)
Charlotte, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Back when cruising Wilkinson Boulevard was a weekend tradition, Town & Country Drive-In was one of the places to see and be seen. Opened in 1955, the drive-in welcomed hungry motorists with a long canopy, curb service, and the smell of barbecue drifting out toward the highway. It was the kind of place where you could grab a meal without ever leaving your car. 04-08

For years, Town & Country was part of Charlotte's cruising scene, sharing the boulevard with other famous roadside stops. Teenagers gathered here on Friday and Saturday nights, car clubs filled the parking lot, and plenty of travelers discovered it while making their way into town. Unlike most drive-ins of the day, Town & Country even served cold beer to customers parked beneath the canopy.

By the time the new century arrived, classic drive-ins like this had become increasingly rare. Town & Country was recognized as one of the last surviving examples of Charlotte's postwar drive-in culture before it finally closed in 2008.

UPDATE: The restaurant has long since been demolished, and the familiar drive-in canopy and roadside sign are gone. 08-26

Sky View Drive-in (Gone)
Florence, SC
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

That big roadside sign with its promise of "Good Food - Fast Service" was enough to make plenty of motorists pull off West Palmetto Street. Sky View Drive-In was one of Florence's longtime roadside favorites, serving burgers, fried chicken, fries, and sweet tea to generations of hungry travelers and local families. 11-10

The drive-in stood along busy U.S. 76 during the heyday of roadside restaurants, when a simple sign and a good meal were all you needed to build a loyal following. Even after newer restaurants arrived, the familiar marquee continued welcoming customers who had been stopping here for years.

Sadly, the story came to an abrupt end in 2008 when a devastating fire destroyed the restaurant. The damage was too severe to rebuild, and before long the old drive-in was gone.

For years afterward, the sign remained standing by itself, a lonely reminder of the restaurant that once stood beneath it. If you drove by after the fire, chances are that familiar marquee caught your eye just as quickly as it always had.

UPDATE: The Sky View Drive-In was never rebuilt after the 2008 fire. The restaurant is gone, and the longtime status of its famous roadside sign is uncertain. 08-26

Ruth's Drive-in
Hartsville, SC
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

This little stone building has been a familiar roadside stop in Hartsville for generations. Ruth's Drive In got its start in 1945 as a tiny gas station serving hot dogs and barbecue before a fire in the early 1950s led to the stone drive-in that still stands today. 11-10

Over the years, Ruth's became known for chili dogs, pimento cheeseburgers, and the popular "Baby Ruth" special. It looked like the end of the road in 2024 when the founding family closed the restaurant after nearly eighty years, but the story wasn't over.

UPDATE: Local owners reopened Ruth's Drive In in 2025, keeping the longtime roadside favorite and its familiar sign serving travelers once again. 08-26

King Tut Drive-in (Demolished)
Beckley, WV
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

That giant crown made King Tut Drive-In one of Beckley's easiest roadside landmarks to recognize. Open since the 1940s and owned by the McKay family from 1955 on, the drive-in welcomed generations of hungry travelers with burgers, homemade pies, and plenty of hometown charm. 11-10

The restaurant was just as memorable for its distinctive sign as it was for the food. Whether you were stopping for lunch or simply driving by, the crown was hard to forget.

UPDATE: King Tut Drive-In closed in 2023 after more than eighty years in business. The restaurant was later demolished, and the famous crown sign disappeared along with it. 08-26

Dairy Freeze
Fort Smith, AR
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

That giant ice cream cone on the sign is enough to make almost anyone think about pulling over. Dairy Freeze has been a familiar sight along Midland Boulevard since the late 1940s, welcoming generations of travelers with burgers, shakes, and towering soft-serve cones. 11-10

The roadside sign has become just as memorable as the food. Complete with its smiling ice cream cone and retro lettering, it still lights up after dark much as it did decades ago. It's the kind of sign that seems perfectly at home on an old highway.

For years, Dairy Freeze was part of a busy stretch of roadside fun, sitting near a miniature golf course and a drive-in theater where families and teenagers spent warm summer evenings. Today the burgers are still cooked on the original grill, and the dipped cones, malts, and onion rings keep customers coming back.

UPDATE: Dairy Freeze continues serving customers today, and its classic roadside sign remains one of Fort Smith's best-known landmarks. 08-26