
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.
Folks reminisced and downed burgers, onion rings and more served in red plastic baskets lined with checkered paper.
Just like the old days. Root beer crafted on-site at the 1938 drive-in and served in frosty mugs by car hops.
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.
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.
There’s something about a classic home-grown drive-in that speaks to summer and the past like no other place…
BONUS PHOTOS:

A lovely old Oliver parked on the edge of the parking lot across the street from a spacious city park.
FYI: The Lakeview Drive Inn closes for the season on September 14.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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