The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Dusty Mehlhoff, right, serves a table of customers during the final week of business for Hi-Way Drive-In. The restaurant, which has operated under several names and various ownership groups, has existed in some form since 1959.
Twila and Curt Klein have owned Hi-Way Drive-In since 1999, and Twila is the longest-tenured manager. In this picture, they were recognized as recipients of the Foster County Fair dedication in 2021. (File photo)
Former Hi-Way Drive-In employee, owner and manager Gayle Hoots reacquainted herself with the kitchen at a reunion Saturday, Nov. 16, of former employees of the business. Hoots is the daughter of Melvin and Florence Zaun, restaurant owners from 1984 to 1994, upon which they sold the business to her and her husband, Rick. Gayle and Rick owned the business until 1996. (Courtesy photo)
The last official 'Big Z', Hoots' signature creation, came off the grill to a hungry patron. (Courtesy photo)
The proliferation of the automotive culture post-World War II led to the budding popularity of the archetypical symbols of Americana: the drive-in fast food restaurant.
With rock-and-roll music, slicked-back hairstyles, poodle skirts and rollerskating waitresses ruling the scene, one of Carrington's most popular food stops, the Hi-Way Drive-In, began its existence in 1959.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, the continuous 65-year history of the drive-in came to an end when the last burger came off the grill to a satisfied customer.
Curt and Twila Klein, owners of Hi-Way since February 1999, have decided to retire from the business, and future plans for either the restaurant or the building itself are not definite at this time.
In recent years, the difficulties in finding employees to take shifts at the drive-in have taken a noticable toll on the restaurant's ability to serve their customers efficiently.
The Kleins, along with daughters April and Amber Kruse, are appreciative of the relationships they have built with the Carrington community, school, athletic programs and service organizations throughout the region.
Service with a smile
Jud and Geneva (Gen) Tracy purchased the lot which would eventually be occupied by Hi-Way Drive-In on April 24, 1958, from Hilding and Esther Johnson.
The Tracys owned the Big Chief Café (now part of the Chieftain Conference Center), and created the Little Chief drive-in at Hi-Way's current location in 1959.
Their ownership of the lot was sold to Harry and Cleo Hicks in July 1968, who then entered into a partnership with Maurice and Margaret Barton and Gary and Mary Jo Engelhart in April 1971.
The business ran as an A&W franchise for one season, selling their world-famous branded root beer, floats, burgers, fries and rings.
After paying the franchise fees for one season, the Engelharts enclosed the building in 1971 to install the counter to the east and the four booths to the north. At that time, the bathrooms were still accessible from the outside. The business was then renamed the Hi-Way 281 Drive-In.
Seven years later, in 1978, Paul and Rosanne Zink, part of E & B Associates, Inc. with the Barton family, bought out the Engelharts' shares in the business, and made further modifications to the building for expanded seating and new bathrooms. They would operate Hi-Way until early 1984, when Melvin and Florence Zaun took over ownership.
Following nearly a decade and a month of the Zauns' stewardship, Gayle Hoots, Melvin and Florence's daughter, purchased the drive-in on a contract for deed on March 14, 1994, and she and husband Rick owned the restaurant until October 1996 when control reverted to the Zauns.
In 1997, the drive-in was sold to Thomas and Merrilyn Dahl, who owned the business until the Kleins purchased it.
The history of the lot prior to its commercial development dates back to 1902, when the first transfer of ownership was noted in Foster County records.
Memories of Hi-Way
Hoots, who now owns Tri-State Equipment Financing, LLC, in Beulah, has fond memories of working at and running the restaurant.
"It truly was some of the best years of my life," she said. "I spent 24 years of my working career there, leaving two years in between."
Gayle was one of the five Zaun kids out of six total who worked at the drive-in, starting at the age of 12 in 1974 and continuing until she and Rick bought the business.
Hi-Way Drive-In's signature food item, the "Big Z," came into being during the Hoots tenure, and one of their other claims to fame, introduced during the Hicks' ownership and taught to the Zink family, was their homemade onion rings.
"My dad wanted a triple burger, and I created the Big Z," Hoots recalled.
By the time Melvin and Florence bought the business, she was the only child left to work, she explained.
"We were blessed with the most amazing team of high school and college workers, plus more," said Hoots. "To this day, they still have a special place in my heart."
The Hoots hired Twila Klein as assistant manager, a business decision that has had lasting positive effects to this day.
"While touring the building, what touched me the most is how Twila kept everything the same, and added her own touches to it," said Hoots. "We couldn't have had a better person carry on the legacy."
In a Facebook post by Amber Kruse dated the day of closure on Nov. 17, she noted that Hi-Way went through 150 pounds of onions over the final week of business.
A reunion of former Hi-Way Drive-In employees, planned and organized by Kruse, was held Saturday, Nov. 16.
The smell of their seasoned fries, juicy burgers, chicken and their tasty soft serve ice cream may have passed into history for now, but the community's steadfast love and support of the Highway 52-281 eating establishment over the decades will certainly live on.
"There are so many people that worked there, and have nothing but great memories and stories to tell," Hoots said. "It was the place to work in Carrington because it was always like a family, never just a job."
