Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In facts for kids
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In is a famous little restaurant. It's a fun place to visit along what used to be Route 66. You can find it in Seligman, Arizona, USA. A man named Juan Delgadillo built this drive-in in 1953. He didn't have much money. So, he used old wood he found near the Santa Fe Railroad tracks.
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Fun History of the Snow Cap
Juan Delgadillo wanted his new restaurant to get noticed. He came up with a really funny idea. He took an old 1936 Chevrolet car. Then, he cut off its roof. He added paint, horns, and badges from other cars. He even put a fake Christmas tree in the back! This car is still on display today.
Juan's Funny Ideas
Juan Delgadillo loved to play jokes. His sense of humor was everywhere. You could see it on his special car and even on his menu. The menu still has funny choices. For example, you can order a "cheeseburger with cheese" or "dead chicken."
Behind the restaurant is "Juan's Garden." This is where Mr. Delgadillo kept his collection of old cars. He also had other strange and interesting things there. Even the restaurant building itself has funny signs. Signs in the parking area warn drivers, "parking at your own risk." A neon sign in the window says, "Sorry, we're open."
The front door is also a trick! It has two doorknobs. One is on the right, and one is on the left. The knob on the right is fake. The one on the left is the only one that opens the door. Juan loved to joke with his customers. He might ask if they really wanted cheese on their cheeseburgers!
A Movie Connection
The creators of the 2006 Disney/Pixar movie Cars learned about Route 66. John Lasseter, who directed the movie, met Juan's brother, Angel Delgadillo. Angel was a barber in Seligman and an expert on Route 66. He told John how traffic almost disappeared when the nearby Interstate 40 opened. This story helped inspire parts of the Cars movie.
Who Runs It Now?
Juan Delgadillo passed away in 2004. Since then, his sons, John-Michael and Robert, have run the Snow Cap. They work at the counter and joke with customers, just like their father did. The walls inside the restaurant are covered with thousands of business cards. These cards come from people all over the world who have visited the Snow Cap.
Gallery
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Old railroad block signal on display in "Juan's Garden."
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Juan Delgadillo's collection of old Chevrolets. Pictured l to r: 1950 Deluxe coupe, 1966 half-ton pickup, unidentified fender, 1950 half-ton pickup, 1970 Impala hardtop, 1939 one-ton fire truck
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Sign along the roof advertising the "Dead Chicken" menu item
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Interior of the Snow Cap with its thousands of business cards on the walls. Order window is to the right
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Toilet and phone booth displayed for fun
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"Must-see" marker placed by Hampton Hotels
Images for kids
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1990 picture of Juan Delgadillo with his 1936 Chevrolet in front of the restaurant
