Kream Kastle (Gone)
Brownsville, TN Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Brownsville, TN is home to the Kream Kastle and this delight of a roadside sign. Despite the faded look of the marquee, this roadside snack delight is in business. 06-06
Kream Kastle was the kind of place that fit perfectly into a summer road trip. It wasn't a big national chain or a flashy attraction. It was simply a neighborhood dairy bar where you could stop for an ice cream cone, a burger, or something sweet before heading down the highway again. Places like this always seemed to have a steady stream of locals mixed in with travelers who happened to spot the sign at just the right time.
The old marquee was what made the place memorable. It looked like it had spent years baking in the Tennessee sun, yet it still had enough personality to make you wonder how many families had pulled in after seeing it from the road. Sometimes the most interesting roadside signs aren't the brightest or the newest. They're the ones that proudly show their age.
Kream Kastle
Brownsville, TN Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Kream Kastle built a loyal following over the years with homemade donuts, fudge brownies, ice cream, and other treats that kept people coming back. When the business later became Z Z's Kream Kastle, some of the original family recipes were carried on, giving longtime customers a familiar taste even as the name changed.
It's easy to imagine this being one of those places where a quick stop for ice cream turned into sitting outside for a while, watching traffic roll by before getting back on the road.
UPDATE: Kream Kastle eventually closed, and the old roadside sign has since been removed. The building remains, but this familiar little roadside stop is no longer serving ice cream. 08-26
Cream City Ice Cream
Cookeville, TN Photo courtesy Doug Harvey
The old Cream City Ice Cream factory is now a converted retail strip center in downtown Cookeville, TN. However the old neon building sign is still on the roof as a reminder of days past. Word is the old sign is still lit up on occasion. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 08-06
If you're passing through downtown Cookeville, it's hard to miss the giant neon sign on the side of Cream City Ice Cream. Hanging above the sidewalk since 1950, it still catches the eye just as it did decades ago, especially with the old railroad depot sitting right across the street.
The building began life as the Consumer City dairy plant, and today it's still serving up ice cream from the same familiar spot. The sign is the real attraction, though. Big, bright, and full of roadside personality, it's the kind of neon that makes you want to pull over for a closer look.
UPDATE: Cream City remains open, and the landmark neon sign continues to light up downtown Cookeville. 08-26
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Rem.)
Albany, GA Photo courtesy Lisa Pike
Our longtime Krispy Kreme store (long before it was a well-known company) located at the corner of Pine Ave. and Slappey Blvd. The old sign has been replaced, but the KK crown still sits on top of the building. Many thanks to Lisa Pike for info. 09-06
Late at night, the glow from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts was enough to grab your attention from down the street. Back when this photo was taken, the classic roadside sign and neon made this Albany location look every bit like an old highway favorite. 09-06
While the pole sign has since disappeared, the familiar Krispy Kreme crown still sits atop the building, giving the shop a little of its vintage character. Sometimes it's the little details that remind you you've found one of the older locations instead of another modern storefront.
UPDATE: Krispy Kreme remains open, but the vintage roadside sign has been replaced with modern corporate signage. The rooftop crown still survives. 08-26
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Some roadside stops don't need giant neon or flashy architecture to grab your attention. This little Dairy Queen in Salisbury does it the old-fashioned way. Sitting just off the highway, the small white building, striped awning, and familiar signs have been welcoming hungry travelers since 1950. 12-07
Before Dairy Queen restaurants grew into larger drive-thrus with expansive menus, places like this were the norm. Walk up to the serving window, place your order, and enjoy your ice cream outside. It doesn't take much imagination to picture families pulling in on a summer afternoon, kids deciding between a cone or a sundae while everyone else waits under the awning.
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The building has changed very little over the years, and that's part of its charm. The compact design feels like a snapshot from another era, when roadside stands popped up along highways and small towns all across America. It's the kind of place that reminds you just how simple a stop for ice cream used to be.
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Then there are the signs. The freestanding roadside marquee still does exactly what it was designed to do, catching the eye of passing motorists, while the three-dimensional soft-serve cone mounted on the front of the building is one of those wonderful little details that has almost disappeared from the American roadside. It's hard to drive by without smiling.
Unlike many vintage Dairy Queens that have been remodeled beyond recognition or replaced altogether, this one continues operating much as it always has. It remains a true walk-up stand, proving that sometimes the old ways are still the best ways.
If you're making your way through Salisbury, it's worth taking a few extra minutes to pull in. Whether you're after a Blizzard, a dipped cone, or just want to admire one of North Carolina's best surviving Dairy Queen stands, this is one roadside stop that's easy to appreciate.
Dairy Queen
Salisbury, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
UPDATE: Below are a couple more photos of the Dairy Queen neon lettering and signage from the Salisbury, NC location. The photos here were taken during a wet afternoon, however the neon glow was there to draw motorists in. 09-10
UPDATE: More than 75 years after opening, the Salisbury Dairy Queen is still serving customers from its original walk-up stand. Both the vintage roadside marquee and the classic cone sign remain part of the roadside scene. 08-26
Kream Kastle (Gone)
Kream Kastle
Cream City Ice Cream
