The quirky small town of Seligman, Arizona, is home to the longest surviving and preserved stretch of Route 66, an expanse which runs 160 miles to Topock, Arizona. Almost equidistant between Kingman and Flagstaff, Seligman is considered (by Arizona legislative decree) the “birthplace of Historic Route 66.” Credit that designation to Angel Delgadilla, a soft-spoken Seligman barber and his brother Juan, a railroad worker who led efforts to preserve Route 66. When the town was bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1978, the brothers formed the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.
Soft-spoken though the brothers might have been, the Delgadillos became activists determined to keep their beloved hometown viable. Before Interstate 40 bypassed Seligman, the town had twelve gas stations to accommodate all the traffic that used to come through. That changed in 1978 when Interstate 40 opened just two miles from town. It took a major toll on communities like Seligman along Route 66. Businesses were shuttered and people moved away. With Route 66 on life support, Angel and Juan lobbied local, state and national lawmakers and groups and by 1987, the State of Arizona designated the road as historic, securing Seligman’s future. The Seligman story was the inspiration for the Disney movie “Cars.” The movie’s fictional town, Radiator Springs, was based on Seligman.
After his Army discharge, Juan Delgadillo worked for the railroad in Seligman, earning the nickname “The Scrapper” because he would take scraps of lumber to his roadside property which he ultimately used to build Snow Cap Drive-In. His restaurant opened in 1953. The Snow Cap has become synonymous with Seligman as well as Americana. It’s one of the most colorful and kitschy restaurants along Route 66 as well as one of the best reasons to take a break from the monotony of driving. There’s something to see at every turn on the roadside attraction slash restaurant. The Snow Cap also offers some of the best milk shakes in Arizona, a state in which staying hydrated is essential.
To draw attention to the restaurant, Delgadillo sliced the roof off of a 1936 Chevrolet hardtop (pictured below), adorned the automobile with paint, horns and various automotive emblems. His flair for showmanship extended to the menu, which still features such choices as a “cheeseburger with cheese” and “dead chicken.” “Juan’s Garden” at the rear of the property bespeaks of his sense of humor. It’s a garden of kitsch, a humorous interlude for weary travelers, His sense of humor extends to the restaurant. Hand-painted signs in the parking area warn drivers that they are parking at their own risk. A neon sign in the window informs patrons, “Sorry, we’re open.” The door that leads to the counter has two knobs, one on the right (a dummy) and one on the left which actually opens the door.
Today, the Delgadillo family continues Juan’s humorous approach by bantering with patrons over their choices of food. For example, your server might ask if you want cheese on your cheeseburgers. Ask for a small drink and you’ll be served a medicine cup filled with the beverage of your choice. Ask for a straw and you’ll be given actual straw, the stuff cows eat. Fake mustard is another family favorite. The staff’s comedic approach belies the seriousness of the restaurant’s menu. It’s an approach designed to make guests happy, to give them another reason to remember Seligman. Sure, you’ve probably seen their schtick before, but it’s all in good fun.
The seriousness is in the restaurant’s menu. Aside from a cheeseburger with cheese, the menu offers a number of burgers, hot dogs and the usual (and some unusual) sides such as fries and onion rings. Also on the menu are ground beef tacos, ground beef burritos and fish or chicken sandwiches. Beverages include Coke fountain products as well as canned soda, iced tea, lemonade, orange juice, apple juice, bottled water, Perrier, beer, wine, coffee (today’s or yesterday’s), hot chocolate and hot tea. The ice cream menu lists several milk shake flavors including a terrific banana shake. Ice cream cones and snow cones are also available–and very handy during the heat.
Over the years, having a burger sans green chile has become a disappointing proposition for me. No matter how good a burger might be, it would be much improved with green chile. Not quite as disappointing as no chile at all is chile that has no bite. I’m old school in that chile has to have heat in addition to flavor. Alas, the double meat green chile cheeseburger at the Snow Cap had about as much piquancy as a bell pepper. With a bit more punch, it would have been quite good. Perhaps the Delgadillo family should lobby to bring Hatch’s best to Seligman.
In 2023, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded a $40,000 grant to the Snow Cap for its dedication to history. Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In is truly a wonderful piece of Americana in which to get your kicks on Route 66.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In
301 AZ-66
Seligman, Arizona
(928) 422-3291
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LATEST VISIT: 30 June 2024
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET: Banana Shake, Ice Cream Cone, Snow Cone
REVIEW #1410