Retro Revival
Discover America’s classic drive-ins, diners and deliciously quirky finds.
t’s as simple as rolling down a window on a summer road trip to let the warm breeze permeate the car. It can happen at the sound of a bat cracking as it hits a curveball far into left field. And it can even creep up as the scent of freshly fried funnel cake wafts through the grounds of your county fair.
That wave of homegrown nostalgia is as classic as America itself, where apple pies become more than a mere post-dinner pastry and state fairs become can’t-miss annual affairs for multiple generations of families. Roadside diners and drive-in movie theaters may seem like a thing of the past, but retro is relevant once again, and that Americana spirit is back in a big way as road trips become the preferred mode of transportation.
A recent study from IPX1031 found more than half (58 percent) of
Americans plan to travel this year, although less than half (48 percent) feel comfortable boarding a plane. With many international trips on hold and frequently changing domestic travel restrictions, 2021 is shaping up to be the year of the road trip. Exploring the open roads of America proves the best way to experience the country, as more than 4.124 million miles of roads offer open-ended possibilities for adventure and discovery. (To plan your journey, check out the Federal Highway Administration’s guide to American Byways at fhwa.dot.gov/byways.)
“From country lanes to the Las Vegas Strip, America’s roads tell our national story,” said Doug Hecox, spokesperson for the Federal Highway Administration. That story continues to unfold as more and more Americans get back behind the wheel and create a demand for more motor-friendly options; a trend that has likely saved some of the most iconic motor lodges, roadside diners and other drive-in establishments. Just outside of Philadelphia, the retro red and blue marquee above The Mahoning Drive-in Theater looks almost the same as it did when it opened in 1949. The theater, one of the oldest operational drive-ins, continues to welcome movie goers back in time with its exclusively 35mm-film roster, including older classics like The Blob, Footloose and Escape from New York.
“Our business has been increasing year by year since we went all-retro
in 2014,” said Mark Nelson, general manager, The Mahoning Drive-in Theater, “but with the pandemic, we were suddenly one of the very few entertainment opportunities for people, so we saw a big surge in attendance. I think we had more sold-out weekends than not last year and added Tuesday and Sunday shows on occasion. [We had] plenty of first timers at our drive-in and, indeed, many people who’d never been to one before. We’ve become very much a roadtripper’s destination, and we get a lot of travelers from all over the country and Canada coming to the theater every year. I guess it just seems natural if you’re on an auto-based trip across the country or region to take in some auto-based entertainment.”
At one point, there were roughly 4,000 drive-in movie theaters across the 50 states, but today only 325 continue offering that nostalgic experience, and many do so with a modern spin. At New York’s Greenville Drive-in, guests can sip on craft brews and munch on Sabrett hot dogs with locally made kimchi while watching a newly released independent film. In Austin, Texas, movie watchers swap seat belts for inner tubes as they float on Lake Travis for the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s annual “Jaws on the Water” dive-in event.
Americans’ craving for classic Americana delves deep into the realm of roadside snacks as well, and a resurgence in traditional recipes filled pie counters with versions of America’s favorite dessert — apple pie — ranging from classic to bizarre. Drivers can dig into the mammoth nineinch-tall Levee High Caramel Pecan Apple Pie from the Blue Owl Bakery in Kimmswick, Missouri — made with 18 apples and listed as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things — or tear through the brown paper wrapper to taste The Elegant Farmer’s Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag from Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Anyone taking a more decadent route will want to stop in for the award-winning Sticky Toffee Pudding Caramel Apple Pie at Sweetie-licious in Dewitt, Michigan, while drivers pull over at the no-frills white trailer home off Arkansas’ Highway 33 for a sweet reward of made-fromscratch apple pie — eaten on the tailgate as the locals do since there are no tables nearby — at Ms. Lena’s Pie Shop in Devalls, Arkansas.
The great American road trip is all about the journey, and no journey through the country is complete without a few quirky roadside stops. Many of the quirkiest attractions are found along Historic Highway 66 — once dubbed “Main Street America” as it crossed eight states to create the shortest, year-round route linking Chicago to Los Angeles. Along the way, 25-foot-tall dinosaurs welcome visitors into Rainbow Rock Shop in Holbrook, Arizona, and a blue whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, has its own Instagram
hashtag (#bluewhaleofcatoosa) and cult following on Snapchat. America’s backroads boast the most unusual attractions — like the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things in Lucas, Kansas, or the homage to the Sistine Chapel with Precious Moments characters at the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. But even the main roads can lead to classic Americana sights such as the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The museum celebrates a bygone era with a modern interactive experience that puts visitors behind the wheel of this classic American car. Every Corvette in the world is produced on site at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, and the nearby museum offers a make-believe auto shop playroom, nostalgia area, Corvette nursery and a Corvette racing simulator. These Kentucky-bred automobiles frequently star on the auction block at the nearby Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, where they take the stage alongside the annual World Championship Horse Show, held every year since the fair was founded in 1902.
Nearly every state in the nation has a state fair these days, with annual gatherings ranging from small competitions held on public land to grandiose events with carnival rides and spirited competitions. (And Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont also join forces for a single New England mega-fair, The Eastern States Exposition.) Despite their ubiquitous nature, no state fair can compete with the stunning spectacle that is the State Fair of Texas. At 24 consecutive days, the State Fair of Texas is the longest-running fair in the nation, as well as one of the largest … and is the only state fair to feature a 55-foot-tall talking cowboy, Big Tex. The grounds span 277 acres and include a football stadium, stages for live music (Elvis once performed there), carnival rides and so much more. Food has become one of the main events in recent years, earning annual Big Tex Awards in categories ranging from Most Creative to Best Taste (Sweet and Savory). Past winners include the cotton candy taco, deep-fried butter and a funnel cake bacon queso burger.
“I believe state fairs are about bringing people together from all walks of life to have fun and discover new things,” said Karissa Condoianis, spokesperson, State Fair of Texas. “Although much has changed since our humble beginnings, the State Fair of Texas still embraces its roots and preserves the traditions upon which it was built. Texas heritage is strong, and the State Fair embodies all aspects of Lone Star culture.”
Whether it’s about celebrating state pride or about creating new memories, taking a nostalgic trip across America is about rediscovering the beauty and charm of the recipes, landscapes and people that continue to paint and restore the country’s classic backdrop of Americana.