email: roadarch@outlook.com

Indiana Drive-ins

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Frazier's Dairy Maid
Anderson, IN
Frazier's Dairy Maid opened in 1954. [map]

Johnsen's Blue Top Drive-in
Highland, IN
Johnsen's Blue Top Drive-in opened in 1938 with a smaller building. The restaurant featured car hops from the beginning. In 1964, a new building which allowed indoor seating was built. The canopy and 28-foot tall neon sign were also built then. For more, see this website. [map]

Dons Drive-in
Kentland, IN
Don's Drive-in opened in 1974 and closed around 2025. The building originally housed a Tastee-Freez which opened in 1956. [map]

Ray's Drive-in
Kokomo, IN

2009:

2025:
The original Ray's Drive-in building was made from logs and built in 1947. The sign is from 1949. The log-faced building was destroyed by a fire in 1964. The current stone-faced building was built in 1965. The sign's arrow has been missing since at least 2024. [map]

Budge's Drive-in
Lafayette, IN
Budge's Drive-in opened in 1942. However, this stand looks more 1950s or 1960s so they have probably rebuilt. This sign had neon originally. [map]

Char-Bett Drive-in
Logansport, IN
The Char-Bett Drive-in started out as a grocery store and gas station in 1951. In 1958, the business began operating as a drive-in. It is named Charbetts now. [map]

Bonnie Doon Drive-in
Lincoln Way West
Mishawaka, IN
Herman and Andrew Muldoon began producing and selling ice cream in 1938 at the 4th St. location shown below. The name Bonnie Doon Ice Cream was chosen in a naming contest. This Lincoln Way West location opened in the mid-1940s and was the first drive-in in the area. There were about nine locations built in the area but this is the only one left. There is still a sign frame like the one on Lincoln Way West left at this former South Bend location. These pole signs were probably installed in the 1960s. [map]

former Bonnie Doon Ice Cream
East 4th Street
Mishawaka, IN

2009:

2025:
The East 4th Street location was built in 1937 as the factory, restaurant, and retail location for Bonnie Doon. There was also drive-up service. In 1961, the building was dramatically remodeled. The plant and restaurant closed in 2013. The Lincoln Way drive-in now serves Valpo Velvet Ice Cream. This 4th St. building remained vacant and the neon sign was still there until around 2017. The building later housed Crisler's Kitchen and the sign was adapted. The neon was removed and a vinyl covering with the new business name was placed over the sign's panels. The wooden sign with the girl was removed. The building is vacant now and the sign panel has been painted black. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Muncie:
Burkie's Drive-in

The Point Drive-in
North Judson, IN
The Point Drive-in was built in the 1960s. In recent years, the location operated as the D&S Drive-in, Piggies & Cream, and Pop's Pit Stop. In 2020, the original name was revived. [map]

Mr. Weenie Drive-in
Peru, IN
The Mr. Weenie Drive-in opened by 1969 and still features car hops. [map]

Susie's Southside Drive-in [gone]
Rushville, IN
Susie's Southside Drive-in was originally known as Miller's Drive-in. It later became Buckley's Riverside Drive-in. This photo is from 2006. By 2008, the drive-in had closed. By 2014, it had been demolished. For more, see this website.

Penguin Point
Drive-ins
B&K Root Beer Indiana
Ice Cream
Indiana
Misc.

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.