Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive In at Seligman, Arizona {Route 66}

Seligman, Arizona proved to be a very interesting small town; it was the quintessential tourist trap that drew us right in from one end of the town to the other. From vintage vehicles to the craziest assortment of mannequins to gift shops full of Route 66 memorabilia, this was a definite stop on our drive down the Mother Road.

We’d followed our EZ66 Guide and our Dining & Lodging Guide the entire trip, and the guides described the Snow Cap Drive In as a place to stop; we thought it sounded really interesting, and the food sounded really good. So, we decided to make it our lunchtime stop. According to Jerry McClanahan, the Snow Cap Drive In was “the funniest food spot” on Route 66 and was owned by Juan Delgadillo, who, sadly, passed away in 2004. Juan liked to play jokes on his patrons, like squirting condiments for one…. he also decorated the entire establishment in a colorful, unique, very eclectic way. His family still owns the restaurant, in keeping with Juan’s traditions.

It really was a hilarious stop. The kids were excited just to walk around and explore, Jaden loving the Cars-like vintage vehicles all over the place. The whole establishment was filled with oddities, like the toilet in the telephone booth…. and the hilarious signs we saw all over the place. When we walked inside to order our food, we entered a long hallway filled with business cards from all over the world…. of course, I had to leave mine too. We ordered our food and enjoyed eating outside on the patio. We ordered burgers, French fries, and drinks; Jaden had the hot dog…. and let me tell you, the food was amazing! Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a burger gal…. I take after my Grandma Delaney in that way; I could live on cheeseburgers. The burgers were filled with all the good stuff a burger should have, crammed full of deliciousness. It’s making me hungry just writing about it.

The whole experience was so worth the stop, and I hope to go back some day. Of course, after eating we couldn’t help but work it off by walking the street just a bit, checking out the gift shops and even taking a photo with Elvis. Seligman holds quite the special place in our Route 66 memories, but especially the Snow Cap Drive In with its eclectic vintage decor and its delicious down home food.