WLM | people
RED BARON
DRIVE-IN,
a Star Valley Icon
By June Johnston
Images courtesy of Red Baron Drive-In
Heidi Daniels said she had
always dreamed of owning her
own restaurant and being able to
work with family. Her husband
Ben loves to cook, so when Red
Baron became available in 2015
the Daniels jumped at the chance.
The previous owners stayed on to
teach them, which they said was a
tremendous help!
I
f you are anxiously awaiting the opening of Red
Baron Drive-in at 838 South Washington Street in
Afton, Wyoming, complete with carhops, you are
not alone.
Paula and Boyd Nield built and opened the Dew Drop
In in April of 1968. The intent was for it to be a seasonal
business, open only in the summer and employing lots
(35) of high school and college students.
Al and Ellen Hale bought the drive-in in 1972 and
renamed it Red Raven Drive-In. Then, due to Al’s
love of airplanes and the valley’s strong connection
to aviation (which continues today), the name was
changed to the Red Baron Drive-In, known to the locals
simply as “Red Baron.”
6
Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Summer 2018
Typically the drive-in opens the fi rst
of May. They have a good crew that
helps that month until school is out.
Sometimes people come in with a list when they open
because they’ve been thinking about it all winter and
are salivating. The community keeps the place packed
the fi rst month, then it tapers off a bit and the tourists
start coming. Toward the end of the season people come
in to get their “Red Baron fi x” before they close for the
winter after Labor Day.
The most popular items on their menu are the Bacon
Burger and their famous foot long hot dog with the
awesome sauce. Oh, and their Scotch and Soda – which
is 7 Up with vanilla, lime and fresh strawberries. When
I commented that it was an interesting name they
explained that their Pepsi men work with them on ideas
and the Pepsi men came up with a scotch and soda
image depicting a bottle of scotch with a corkscrew.