Thomas Wolfe says you can’t go home again. What once was is no longer. Things change. Nothing stays the same. Except for one thing. Jim’s Drive-In in Lewisburg, WV, my hometown.
I’ve written about Jim’s Drive-In many times because it was such a large part of my youth and growing up. My family discovered the joys of the iconic drive-in soon after we moved to Lewisburg. When Daddy was out of town on FBI business, Mom would often load up the family in our green Pontiac and go to Jim’s. In my earlier days, I went for the shakes and burgers. But then I discovered the magic of one of Jim’s hot dogs with sweet, crisp onions, a splash of mustard, a spoonful of cole slaw and Jim’s extra special chili. There is none better.
Jim’s Drive In today is exactly like it was in the 1950’s, even down to the ancient serving trays that clung to the windshields of cars like Plymouth Barracudas, Chevelle Super Sports and Ford T-Birds. Today they hang on SUVs and the all-electric Tesla’s.
The car hops are the same, just a little younger, and the menu is almost exactly the same, though prices have climbed the Jack and the Beanstalk vines of inflation. Burgers that were a quarter are now in the three-dollar category as are the milkshakes. One of my favorite Jim’s Drive In treats was a frosty mug of Root Beer and an order of fries. You could give the car hop two quarters and get back change. Those were the days.
Jim’s Drive, located at 479 W Washington Street in Lewisburg, is worth a visit from those traveling east and west along I-64. It’s a couple miles from the exit, but it’s well worth the short trip to be able to travel back in time and relive the days of fast cars, drive-in restaurants and kids cruising around town looking for those of the opposite sex.