Tee Pee Restaurant (Gone)
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Under the neon Tee Pee, patrons will be pleasantly surprised by the Tee
Pee Restaurant's service, atmosphere and food. It is located on Highway
441 North in the heart of the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina.
They offer fresh local salmon, an inexpensive buffet, tasty club sandwiches
and also claim to have the "Largest Salad Bar" in all of Cherokee.
Eaters can either dine inside the family style restaurant or sit on a
deck out back over a stream. Indian dancers can be spotted performing
across the street at a gift shop during the summer months. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The glowing teepee sign made this one hard to drive past. Tee Pee Restaurant was a longtime stop for travelers heading through Cherokee, offering everything from trout and salmon to club sandwiches and a popular buffet. Out back, a deck overlooking the stream provided a nice place to slow down for a while, and during the summer you could even catch traditional Cherokee dance performances across the road.
Like many old roadside restaurants, the Tee Pee eventually closed. The neon sign disappeared, and the building was remodeled for another business. It's one more memorable stop that's now just part of the roadside history of the Smokies.
UPDATE: Although the restaurant is gone today, the old teepee sign remains a favorite memory for many travelers who passed through Cherokee. 08-26
Burgers
Shakes
Lexington, KY Photo courtesy Devil Doll
There's something about an old roadside sign advertising burgers and shakes that just makes you want to stop. Years ago, this one proudly promoted 79-cent burgers and shakes. These days you can't get much for under a dollar, but the sign is still doing its job.
Burgers Shakes has been a Lexington favorite since 1957. It's a simple walk-up stand with a drive-thru, serving burgers, hot dogs, fries, and thick milkshakes without a lot of fuss. The menu has stayed true to its roots, and the prices are still among the best in town.
The rooftop neon sign is what really catches your eye. While the prices on the marquee have changed over the years, the sign itself remains one of the classic roadside sights along New Circle Road. It's the kind of place that proves you don't need a fancy building to become a local landmark.
UPDATE: Burgers Shakes is still serving customers today, and its vintage rooftop neon sign continues to brighten New Circle Road. 08-26
Cox Family Restaurant
Morehead City, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The first thing you'll probably notice at Cox Family Restaurant isn't the food. It's that wonderful neon sign with the glowing little house perched on top. It's one of those signs that makes you curious enough to pull in and see what's waiting inside.
Cox Family Restaurant has been feeding locals and travelers since 1976. Breakfast is served all day, seafood is a house specialty, and the daily specials have kept generations of regulars coming back. If you happen to stop in on a Monday, you can even order a full Thanksgiving-style dinner complete with turkey and dressing.
The sign, though, is what really gives the place its roadside personality. The little neon house has been lighting up Arendell Street for decades, welcoming visitors to the Crystal Coast just as it always has. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth slowing down for a closer look.
UPDATE: Cox Family Restaurant remains a popular local gathering place, and its distinctive neon house sign continues to light the way for travelers passing through Morehead City. 08-26
Parkette Drive-in (Demolished)
Lexington, KY Photo courtesy Scott Leigh
It's hard to beat the sight of the Parkette
Drive-in after dark. The giant neon sign, glowing carhop, and sweeping canopy made this one of Kentucky's greatest roadside stops. If you were passing through Lexington, it was almost impossible not to notice it.
The Parkette opened in 1951 and became famous for its Poor Boy burgers, fried chicken, and classic drive-in atmosphere. I always looked forward to seeing it on trips through Lexington and figured there would always be another chance to stop. Hearing that it had closed in 2022 was a real disappointment.
The restaurant and canopy are gone now, but thankfully the huge neon marquee was saved. It still stands over New Circle Road as a protected Lexington landmark, reminding travelers of one of the South's finest drive-ins.
UPDATE: Although the Parkette was demolished in 2022, its iconic neon sign continues to light up New Circle Road. 08-26
The Varsity
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
The giant red "V" has been drawing hungry motorists into The Varsity since 1928. Sitting across from Georgia Tech, this Atlanta landmark is hard to miss, especially after dark when the neon lights are glowing.
The Varsity is famous for its chili dogs, onion rings, Frosted Orange, and the familiar greeting of "What'll ya have?" It's also known as the world's largest drive-in restaurant, serving generations of locals, students, and travelers passing through town.
If you're looking for a classic roadside experience in Atlanta, The Varsity is still one of the best stops around.
UPDATE: The Varsity continues serving customers from its original location, with the famous neon "V" still lighting up North Avenue. 08-26
Air Devils Inn
Louisville, KY Photo courtesy Devil Doll
The little red devil on top of the neon sign has been welcoming thirsty travelers to Air
Devils Inn since 1934. Sitting across from historic Bowman Field, it's one of those places that catches your eye long before you realize you're looking at Louisville's oldest continuously operating neighborhood bar.
The building has an interesting past, beginning life as a one-room schoolhouse before being converted into a tavern after Prohibition ended. The name "Air Devils" was inspired by the pilots flying in and out of nearby Bowman Field, giving the place a fitting connection to one of Kentucky's oldest airports.
Today, Air Devils Inn is still going strong, serving cold drinks and live music beneath that memorable neon sign. It's a great reminder that some of the best roadside landmarks aren't restaurants at all.
UPDATE: Air Devils Inn remains open today, and the classic neon devil continues to light up Taylorsville Road. 08-26
Here's Corky's Bar-B-Q. Pulled pork, wet or dry ribs. They even ship to most any location via Federal Express. I have a friend who lives in Grand Forks, ND. He orders from them several times a year. Many thanks to Sherry McGee for info. 07-06
One thing that really put Corky's on the map was its nationwide shipping. Long before it became common, folks were having ribs and pulled pork packed in dry ice and shipped overnight by Federal Express. The restaurant is still going strong today, and the neon pig continues to welcome hungry visitors along Poplar Avenue. 07-06
UPDATE: Corky's remains a Memphis favorite, serving its famous barbecue from the original East Memphis location. 08-26
Burgers
Shakes
Cox Family Restaurant
Corky's Bar-B-Q
