A John Deere rounds the corner onto the 600 block of East Sarnia Street where the drive-in is located.
TRACTORS RUMBLED INTO WINONA’S Lakeview Drive Inn parking lot on a perfect Minnesota evening in late August. Ideal temps. Sun edging behind the bluffs in this Mississippi River town of nearly 28,000.
Drive-in fare served in a paper lined basket.
Folks reminisced and downed burgers, onion rings and more served in red plastic baskets lined with checkered paper.
A few cars, some vintage, managed to sneak into the drive-in among all the tractors.
Just like the old days. Root beer crafted on-site at the 1938 drive-in and served in frosty mugs by car hops.
Rows of tractors ringed Lakeview Drive Inn.
My husband and I happened upon historic Lakeview’s annual Farm Tractor Night while returning from a vacation to Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. What a delight.
One view of Farm Tractor Night.
We were first introduced to Lakeview when our eldest daughter attended Winona State University, several blocks away, 10 years ago. I even wrote a magazine feature article on this vintage drive-in.
One can only imagine the conversation.
There’s something about a classic home-grown drive-in that speaks to summer and the past like no other place…
BONUS PHOTOS:
The oldest tractor, a 1937 John Deere A, at Lakeview.
A sweet vintage Ford.
Even the Winona County dairy princesses showed up for Farm Tractor Night.
A lovely old Oliver parked on the edge of the parking lot across the street from a spacious city park.
Loved the original art on this International tractor.
Come as you are for Farm Tractor Night. So authentic.
Attendees could go on a tractor-pulled wagon ride through the park across the street.
Just arrived at the tractor show.
FYI: The Lakeview Drive Inn closes for the season on September 14.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love this drive inn. That 1937 John Deere A has some pretty aggressive rear wheels.
I asked about those wheels. This is what tractor wheels were like before rubber tires. No driving this tractor on a road anymore.
Fun event and even better that you just happened upon it accidentally. Favorite picture today has to be the two guys chatting it up in front of the tractors. Perfect capture.
That’s my favorite image also. A moment in time. Captured.
Just had breakfast, saw this, and now I am craving onion rings. It’s all your fault! 🙂 Drive-ins are absolutely so “summer”. Love that red Ford truck.
So sorry, well, maybe not. Always happy to trigger a response in readers, even if it’s for onion rings for breakfast.
Located just across the lake from the hospital that was my “work home” ’til I retired. Neat post. Awesome drive-in!
I knew you would know the Lakeview well. Awesome, indeed.
What FUN – Great Captures! Happy Day 🙂
It was fun to happen upon this event.
I too have been to this drive inn, (when Brianna was a Winona State) so Nostalgic! Love all the tractor pics especially the “oliver” and the Red Ford truck. 🙂
I bet a lot of WSU parents have frequented Lakeview. Just gotta love a place like this.
I know where I am headed when I get there! I am headed for the Lake View drive in for one of the buffalo burgers!
Ya’ll got ma appetite reving!
Be sure to also order a mug of Lakeview’s homemade root beer.