Not Many People Know The Very First McDonald’s Drive-Thru Started Right Here in Arizona

On January 24, 1975, fast food history was made in the small town of Sierra Vista, Arizona. On that day, the very first McDonald’s drive-through window opened, forever changing the way we order and eat burgers on the go.

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The Birthplace of the McDonald’s Drive-Thru

Credit: https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/first-mcd-drivethru.html

While drive-through restaurants were not a new concept at the time, with chains like In-N-Out Burger already utilizing them, McDonald’s had always emphasized counter service and a diner-style experience. However, the Sierra Vista location, operated by franchisee David Rich, faced a unique challenge that led to the drive-through innovation.

Soldiers Couldn’t Dine In Uniform

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Sierra Vista is a military town, home to the Fort Huachuca Army base. Soldiers stationed there were not allowed to be seen wearing their uniforms in public when off-duty, per the fort’s rules on military decorum. This made it impossible for them to sit down and have lunch at the McDonald’s. Rich came up with an ingenious solution – he cut a hole in the wall, installed a sliding glass window and intercom, and the drive-through was born. Now soldiers could quickly grab their food to go without violating any regulations.

An Instant Hit and Lasting Legacy

The drive-through was an immediate success, with the post commander and his daughter being the first customers. It accounted for a major boost in sales for the Sierra Vista McDonald’s.Word quickly spread to other franchisees and McDonald’s corporate. While the original restaurant was demolished in 1999, the location still features a “World’s First McDonald’s Drive-Thru” sign and a display with memorabilia like the original Ronald McDonald drive-through greeter. The window itself is preserved at the Henry F. Hauser Museum in town. Today, around 70% of McDonald’s sales in the U.S. come via the drive-through. Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an essential lifeline for fast food chains. And it all started with some hungry soldiers in a small Arizona town nearly 50 years ago.