A burger stuffed between two grilled cheese sandwiches sits on the menu at a drive-in where carhops still bring trays right to your car window. That alone got my attention.
Then I learned about the homemade root beer.
The building’s wavy roofline once made people think a church was going up. Out front, a giant sign glows like it took a wrong turn on the Las Vegas Strip.
Katharine Hepburn, Joe Louis, and the Chicago Bears all reportedly stopped here.
There’s a lot to take in here beyond the menu, from the unusual architecture to the old-school drive-in setup. Classic cars roll into the lot on weekends.
Checkered floors and chrome stools wait inside.
I’d go for the grilled-cheese burger, but I’d probably stay long enough to soak up the whole retro atmosphere. Between the carhops, homemade root beer, and glowing roadside sign, this Indiana drive-in still knows how to put on a show.
The Roots Go Back To A Gas Station Food Stand
Back in the 1930s, William Louis Johnsen and his wife Julia ran food stands beside a Shell gas station in Highland. One stand had a blue shingled roof.
Guess what everybody started calling it?
The Blue Top name stuck, and it has outlasted a lot of things since. In 1950, Julia built Johnsen’s Motel around the little stand.
Another operator leased it for a while after that. Then in 1953, their son Ben Johnsen took it back and restored the Blue Top name.
The current building went up in 1964. That change made year-round business possible and added more parking for hungry drivers.
For many years, it held the title of oldest same-family restaurant in Highland. In 2001, it even earned Indiana’s Half Century Business Award.
That honor recognized its part in the state’s economic growth. Pretty impressive for something that started as a roadside snack stop.
Today the spelling on the sign says Johns’ instead of Johnsen’s. Still, the story underneath it is the same one.
Every burger here comes with nearly a century of family history on the side.
Your Car Becomes The Best Seat In The House
Carhops are the stars of the show at Johns’ Blue Top Drive In. They take your order right at the car and bring food out on trays that hook onto your window.
That kind of service used to be everywhere across America. Now it feels like spotting a rare bird in your own backyard.
The covered carport sits at the center of the whole operation. It keeps the sun and rain off while you wait for your meal.
Pull in, roll down the window, and let somebody else do the walking for once.
Not into eating in the front seat? No problem at all.
Outdoor picnic tables give you room to spread out on a nice day.
There’s also an indoor dining room with seats for about 35 people. So you get three ways to eat, depending on your mood and the weather.
I believe the car option is the one to try first. It’s the reason the place exists, after all.
Kids especially get a kick out of a tray balanced on the window. Just maybe keep the milkshake away from the steering wheel.
Folks Once Mistook The Roof For A Church
Construction crews in 1964 gave Highland something to talk about. The new building had such a wavy, swooping roofline that locals thought a church was going up.
Nope. It was a temple of a different kind, built for burgers and shakes.
That roof is classic mid-century modern design. Architects back then loved bold curves and shapes that looked like they were ready for liftoff.
Most buildings from that era have been torn down or covered up. This one still shows off its curves along Indianapolis Boulevard.
Look closely when you pull in. The roof stretches out over the carport where cars line up for service.
It’s both stylish and useful, which is a rare combo in architecture. Plenty of fancy buildings can’t say the same thing.
The Blue Top is known as the last 1950s-style drive-in left in Lake County, Indiana. That makes the building a real piece of local history, not a copy.
Bring a camera if you love old design. Snap the roofline from a few angles before you order.
Then you can say you visited the only church in town that serves cheeseburgers.
Good Luck Missing That Giant Glowing Sign
Twenty-eight feet tall and sixteen feet wide. That’s the size of the sign standing guard over the lot.
It was built from ceramic-coated steel with hundreds of feet of neon tubing. More than 40 high-voltage transformers once powered the glow.
Sign experts call this style a mini spectacular. The design was popular in Las Vegas back in its heyday.
Somehow, a small piece of that flashy desert style landed in northwest Indiana. Today the lighting is LED, which keeps things bright with a modern twist.
Driving up at night is half the fun. The sign works like a lighthouse for anybody craving fries after dark.
I can’t imagine a better way to announce a drive-in. Nobody needs a map when the restaurant basically waves at you from down the road.
Old signs like this are disappearing all over the country. Many got replaced with plain boxes and plastic panels.
This one is a big part of what makes the Blue Top feel special. Grab a photo with it lit up behind you.
Your friends will think you went to Nevada for dinner.
Burgers Big Enough To Need A Game Plan
Half a pound. That’s roughly what the Cruiser Cheeseburger weighs, and it’s the burger many people come for.
The patties are grilled to order, not charbroiled. They’re made fresh without fillers like breadcrumbs.
Feeling brave? The Big Ben Double Cheeseburger stacks two Cruiser patties with extra American cheese.
It earned recognition as a favorite on WGN Chicago. Some burgers here are big enough to split between two people, so plan ahead.
Then the menu gets creative. The Grilled Cheese Burger tucks a patty between two grilled cheese sandwiches instead of a bun.
That sounds wild, and honestly, it should. The Western adds onion rings and BBQ sauce for a smoky crunch.
You’ll also find Gyro, Jalapeno, Mushroom, Bacon, Pizza, and 3 Cheese versions. That’s a lot of choices for one grill.
My advice is simple. Pick one wild option and one classic, then share with a friend.
The name Big Ben honors Ben Johnsen, the son who brought the Blue Top name back in 1953. So you’re basically eating a history lesson.
A very cheesy, very filling history lesson.
Homemade Root Beer Steals The Spotlight
Root beer gets made fresh right in the kitchen here. Most restaurants just pour it from a machine, so this is a big deal.
Drinks come with shaved ice too. That small touch keeps things extra cold on a hot Indiana afternoon.
Flavored colas add even more fun. Vanilla and cherry are on the list, plus a secret-recipe rum flavor that’s simply a soda twist.
Then there are the shakes. They’re made with less air, which means they come out thick.
Bring patience and maybe a spoon. Your straw might need a minute to win that fight.
Malts are on the menu as well. Those can be hard to find these days, so fans of that toasty flavor should take note.
Hard ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, floats, and strawberry shortcake round things out. A root beer float made with the house root beer seems like an obvious move.
Here’s a tip for the indecisive eater. Order a burger, then save room for dessert later instead of cramming it all in at once.
Sitting in the car with a cold shake is basically the official Blue Top experience.
Fries, Hot Dogs, And A Few Surprises
Big Block Blue Top Fries are billed as the largest in Northwest Indiana. That’s a bold claim, and these thick-cut fries back up the swagger.
Want to dress them up? Chili cheese fries and loaded fries are both on the menu.
Chicago Hot Dogs make sense here, since the Illinois line sits so close. Corn dogs and pizza puffs bring more nostalgic snack energy.
The appetizer list is long. Fried mushrooms, zucchini sticks, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and nachos all show up.
That makes this a fun spot for groups. Everybody can grab a different side and share around the table or car.
Not in a burger mood? Chicken marinara sandwiches, beef sandwiches, ham hoagies, and bowls of chili fill the gaps.
Vegetarians aren’t left out either. Salads and veggie wraps give non-meat eaters a solid option.
Families with picky kids will appreciate the chicken nuggets. Nobody has to go home hungry or grumpy.
My suggestion is to order one side you’ve never tried before. Zucchini sticks at a drive-in?
Sure, why not. Old-school spots like this are made for a little adventure between bites.
Checkered Floors And A Jukebox Wait Inside
Black and white checkered tiles cover the floor of the dining room. Chrome-accented stools line the counter like they’re waiting for a sock hop.
Vintage car photos and racing memorabilia fill the walls. Car fans could spend a whole meal just looking around.
An antique-style jukebox stands out in the room. It finishes the 1960s vibe better than any playlist on your phone.
Inside seating holds about 35 people. It’s cozy, so a cold or rainy day might fill it up fast.
New owner John Golfis reopened the drive-in in October 2024. He also runs Simon Sez restaurant in Merrillville.
Renovations after the reopening added an ice cream shop area. It features original booths from the 1940s, which is a pretty cool detail.
Think about that for a second. You could eat a sundae in a booth older than most of the cars outside.
The Blue Top had been closed for over a year before the comeback. Now it’s open year-round again.
Its rooms feel freshened up while keeping the old charm that made people love it in the first place.
Classic Cars Turn The Parking Lot Into A Show
The Home of the Cruiser was this drive-in’s old nickname. It still fits, especially when the weekend rolls around.
Classic cars often fill the lot on weekends. Cruise nights turn the place into something close to a rolling car museum.
Shiny chrome, big fins, and loud engines all fit right in here. Car lovers get a show and a cheeseburger in the same stop.
The Blue Top has a big community side too. It has hosted charity car washes for many non-profits and youth groups.
You’ll find Johns’ Blue Top Drive In at 8801 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 46322. It’s an easy stop for anyone near the Indiana and Illinois border.
Hours vary by day, and early weekend openings make breakfast-time visits possible. Checking the latest schedule before you go is a smart move.
Bring your own classic car if you have one. If not, your family minivan is still welcome under that famous roof.
I like how this place gives everybody a reason to hang around a little longer. Good food, old cars, and a glowing sign.
That’s a pretty great way to spend an evening in Indiana.
