Springtime in New York means we now get to enjoy the sounds of birds chirping outside our windows, flowers starting to bloom all around us, and oh yeah, the best part – visiting our favorite drive-in restaurants as they begin to open up for the year! Most of the drive-in restaurants that you’ll find still standing in New York have been here for quite some time, with this style of dining being one that’s an old classic. Yet out of all the drive-ins you can choose to visit here in the Empire State, there’s one in the Capital Region that just very well may be the oldest of them all. Do you know which roadside gem we’re speaking of?
Recently opening up for the year, Jack’s Drive In of Wynantskill is currently celebrating its 81st season.
Open since 1938, not too much has changed over the years 80 years here at Jack’s.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
The roadside drive-in began as a carhop-style eatery, eventually adding picnic tables all around the property - although you’ll still see plenty of people dining in their cars in the parking lot today.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
On a daily basis, you can find a mass amount of delicious ingredients being cooked up in the kitchen here at Jack’s - just look at all those delicious caramelized onions!
Lauren H./FourSquare
If you take a look at Jack’s Drive In, there are only a couple of things that have been tweaked throughout the years since they’ve opened up.
Wiz Koulikov/Google
In the beginning, Jack’s only sold sliders on buns with ketchup, but in the mid-1990s they decided to add cheese to both their sliders and fries.
Wiz Koulikov/Google
If it’s your first time visiting, you might also think that the mini hot dogs here at Jack’s have been a longtime menu item but you’d be wrong to assume so.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
The tasty mini hot dogs at Jack’s were only added to the menu just five years ago, supplied by Helmbold’s of Troy.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
One of the longest-standing eateries in the Capital Region and all of New York, Jack’s generally stays open until November so you have plenty of time to plan a trip here this year.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
Those in the Capital Region often pair up their mini hot dogs with chocolate milk, but we’d also be doing you an injustice if we didn’t mention that the milkshakes here at thick and out of this world with flavor.
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
Open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., see why this amazing drive-in has been around for so long in Wynantskill, New York.
Google To find out more about Jack’s Drive In, check out their Facebook page click here.
How to get here: 24 Main Avenue, Wynantskill, NY 12198
Enjoy the days of dining amongst nostalgia? Then make sure you also check out how This Tiny Drive In May Just Be The Best Kept Secret In New York!
Jack’s Drive In/Facebook
Lauren H./FourSquare
Wiz Koulikov/Google
To find out more about Jack’s Drive In, check out their Facebook page click here.
How to get here: 24 Main Avenue, Wynantskill, NY 12198
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