Remember cruising down Indiana highways in the 1970s and 80s? Those roads were dotted with fast-food joints that have since vanished from our landscape. Before McDonald’s and Burger King dominated every exit, these regional favorites captured the hearts and appetites of Hoosier travelers.
Take a nostalgic road trip with me as we revisit these once-mighty fast-food empires that time forgot.
1. Burger Chef: Indianapolis’ Homegrown Burger Giant
Before the golden arches conquered the world, Burger Chef was Indiana’s hometown hero. Born in Indianapolis in 1954, this pioneering chain invented the kids’ Fun Meal (complete with toys) years before McDonald’s Happy Meal hit the scene.
At its peak, over 1,200 locations dotted American highways, making it the second-largest burger chain nationwide. The flame-broiled patties and Works Bar, where customers could customize their burgers, created fast-food memories for a generation of Hoosiers.
2. Red Barn: Where The Big Barney Reigned Supreme
Those iconic barn-shaped buildings with bright red roofs were impossible to miss along Indiana highways. Red Barn’s architecture was as memorable as its menu offerings.
Travelers stopped for the Big Barney (a double-decker burger that rivaled the Big Mac), the Barnbuster, and their famous fried chicken. Despite disappearing by the late 1980s, former patrons still reminisce about the chain’s catchy jingle: “When the hungries hit, hit the Red Barn.”
3. Howard Johnson’s: Orange-Roofed Oases For Road-Weary Travelers
Those brilliant orange roofs beckoned tired families from miles away. HoJo’s wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a complete roadside experience with adjoining motor lodges where weary travelers could rest.
Indiana drivers fondly recall the 28 flavors of ice cream that made even the longest road trips bearable. The fried clam strips and frankfort platters fueled countless Midwest family vacations, creating a special place in Hoosier highway history before interstate homogenization took hold.
4. Druther’s: The Chain That Changed Its Mind
“I’d druther go to Druther’s!” The catchy slogan echoed through Indiana commercials after this chain evolved from its Burger Queen origins in 1981.
Andy Dandytale, the chain’s whimsical mascot, welcomed Hoosier families to enjoy the Burger Queen legacy with a new name. Most locations eventually transformed into Dairy Queens during the 1990s, but middle-aged Indianans still remember requesting the “Royal Burger” and enjoying the self-service sundae bar that made Druther’s special.
5. Carrols: The Forgotten Fast-Food Powerhouse
Long before becoming Burger King’s largest franchisee, Carrols operated its own restaurants throughout the Midwest, including strategic spots along Indiana’s busiest travel routes.
The Club Burger and Crispy Cup (a taco in a fried flour tortilla) developed cult followings among regular patrons. What’s particularly fascinating is how this Syracuse-born chain quietly transformed itself, converting most locations to Burger Kings in the 1970s, effectively hiding in plain sight for decades after its original identity faded.
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