Silly signs are a great way to get attention, and an Ohio sausage shop has turned them into a roadside tradition. One red sign reads “No fatty in our patty,” and it made me laugh out loud alone in my car.
A few more funny messages later, I was pulling into a gravel lot beside a white barn with a giant smiley face painted on it. Smoked meat fills the air before the door even closes behind you.
The place has been feeding hungry travelers since 1959. A quick snack turned into a cooler full of goodies and a big grin.
The best part is a true story about a customer who loved the shop so much he landed a helicopter on the front lawn. Once you hear it, the loyalty of the fans makes perfect sense.
This little shop near a central Ohio town rewards anyone who follows the signs.
A Back Porch Beginning in 1959
History always tastes better to me when I know where it started. Mom Wilson’s began in 1959 on the back porch of a farming couple, Horace and Fern “Mom” Wilson.
They sold homemade sausage during the slow farming months to earn a little extra money.
Horace learned how to process meat from his own father, so the recipes already had deep family roots. Word spread fast around Delaware County, and soon the porch was too small.
The business moved into their garage as more and more neighbors came knocking for sausage.
Then came a hard day in 1965. A tornado tore through the farm, and the Wilsons had a tough choice to make.
They put their life savings into rebuilding, and the building they raised is the same shop people visit today.
That kind of grit is easy to admire. The family torch passed to their daughter Sue and her husband Dennis Snavley, and now their son Sam and his wife Jillian run things.
Three generations have kept the same careful methods going for more than sixty years.
Knowing all of this made my first bite feel extra special. Every link here carries a story, and that is a pretty great thing to chew on during a road trip.
Silly Signs and the Famous Porkin’ Lot
Nobody warned me that I would be giggling for a full mile before I even parked. A string of bright red signs lines U.S. 23, each one with a cheesy joke about pork.
My favorite was “Put R Skill in UR Skillet,” which I repeated in my head for an hour afterward.
The signs work like a trail of breadcrumbs. They lead you right to a white barn wearing a huge smiley face, followed by a long, low building that looks friendly from the road.
Even the parking area has a pun. Locals and staff call it the “Porkin’ Lot,” and honestly, I wish more businesses had this much fun with their names.
It sets the mood before you grab the door handle.
Here is a tip for families on a long drive. Kids love spotting the next sign, so it turns into a little game that breaks up the boring highway miles.
Grown-ups tend to play along too, even if they pretend they are too cool for it.
The whole setup tells you something important about the people inside. They take their meat seriously, but they clearly do not take themselves too seriously, and that balance is a big part of the charm.
The Day a Helicopter Came for Sausage
Some stories sound made up until you learn they are true. A customer from Columbus once called Mom Wilson’s with an order and asked the Snavley family a simple favor.
Could they stay open ten extra minutes so he could grab it?
The family agreed, expecting a car to come racing up the highway. Instead, a helicopter dropped out of the sky and landed right on the front lawn.
I can only imagine the faces of anyone shopping inside at that moment!
The best part is that it did not end there. He still flies north to the shop now and then for his sausage fix.
These days, though, he politely calls ahead to let everyone know he is coming by air.
Columbus sits roughly thirty miles away, which is not a long drive at all. That is what makes the tale so funny and so sweet.
He clearly decided the trip deserved a little extra flair.
Most of us will arrive the normal way, with four wheels and a cooler in the trunk. Still, standing near that lawn, I could not stop picturing spinning blades over the Porkin’ Lot, and it made the stop feel a bit legendary.
A Cozy Room Full of Pigs and Old Clocks
My eyes did not know where to land first once I got inside. Porcelain pigs smile down from the shelves, antique clocks tick away on the walls, and old farm tools hang like pieces of a museum.
It feels more like a grandparent’s den than a store.
Somehow, it never looks messy. Every piece seems to have its own spot, and together they paint a picture of Ohio farm life from long ago.
I found myself slowly circling the room, spotting a new little pig every few steps. Some are cute, some are goofy, and a couple seemed to be wearing tiny outfits.
It is a fun scavenger hunt while you wait for your order.
Then there is the smell, which deserves its own paragraph. Smoky, savory air greets you the second you step in, and it is impossible not to get hungry.
Plan on that happening, especially if you skipped lunch.
If you enjoy old things, give yourself a few extra minutes here. The collection connects nicely with the shop’s long history, and it makes the place feel personal rather than plain.
It is the kind of room that sticks in your memory long after the drive home.
Cracker Sausage, Bacon, and the Meat Case
Ask almost any regular what to buy, and you will hear two words: cracker sausage. Sized just right to sit on a cracker, it is sweet, a little peppery, and packed with pepper jack cheese.
I ate half my stick in the car before I reached the highway.
Thick hickory-smoked bacon is the other big star. People drive a long way for it, and after one breakfast at home, I understood exactly why.
The glass cases stretch on with plenty more to try. You will find sweet and hot Italian sausage, bratwurst, maple links, bologna, ham, salami, and beef jerky.
Snack sticks come in original or garlic and cheese, and they make great road food.
Here is a fun fact about the fresh pork. The family uses 95 percent lean meat, which is where that “No fatty in our patty” sign comes from.
It is a joke with real meaning behind it.
My advice is to try the free samples when they are out. Friendly folks behind the counter are happy to share favorites, and tasting first helps you choose wisely.
Grab one thing for now and one thing for later, because you will want both.
Jams, Cheeses, and Country Pantry Treasures
Meat might be the main event, yet the shelves around it turned into my surprise favorite part. Jars of black raspberry, red raspberry, and cranapple raspberry jam glow like stained glass.
Next to them sit fruit butters in apple, pumpkin, and even hot pepper.
Cheese lovers get plenty of choices too. Sharp cheddar, baby Swiss, horseradish cheddar, and creamy spreads all pair nicely with a stick of summer sausage.
Home cooks should hunt for the Amish noodles, BBQ sauces, and spice blends. I grabbed a country biscuit mix and a sausage gravy mix, which felt like taking a breakfast kit home.
Sunday morning at my house was very happy that week.
Depending on the season, you may also spot pies, honey, popcorn, or even potted mums outside the door. Each visit can look a little different, which keeps things exciting.
One practical tip makes a big difference here. Bring a small cooler, since many folks are traveling through and the meat needs to stay cold.
If you forget, the shop sells cheap cooler bags and has offered frozen water bottles to help, which is a thoughtful touch for anyone with a long drive ahead.
Planning Your Own Stop on U.S. 23
Leaving with a heavy cooler and a full belly, I was already plotting my next trip. Good news for planners: the shop keeps steady hours, open 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday.
Sundays are closed, so save your craving for another day.
Arriving a bit before closing time is smart. That gives you room to taste samples, chat, and wander the shelves without rushing.
The Snavley family makes first-timers feel like longtime regulars, and that warm welcome has earned them loyal customers for decades. In 2025, the shop was named the top-rated butcher shop in Delaware by Quality Business Awards.
Considering the friendly service, that honor makes a lot of sense.
Live too far away for a quick visit? The shop does ship, so you can still enjoy cracker sausage at home.
Just do not blame me if you start dreaming about a road trip anyway.
Whether you roll in by car, bike, or helicopter, this place rewards the stop. It mixes history, humor, and honest food in one cheerful building.
For me, that combination is exactly what makes a roadside detour worth remembering.
Address: 7720 US Highway 23 N, Delaware, Ohio
