Best Of MN: Drive-Ins

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- When it comes to burgers, malts and car-hops, WCCO viewers picked the best locale as the Peppermint Twist, situated just 30 minutes west of the Twin Cities.

And it's a good deal as a couple of burgers, onion rings and two shakes were under $20.

Driving down Highway 12 in Delano, it's impossible to miss the Peppermint Twist.

"At the time, pink wasn't a popular color and my neighbors were not very happy with us," co-owner Vickie Mirenda said. "But that's what brought attention to the place."

Pink seems to be working -- on a hot summer day close to 400 cars pull up.

Vickie and her husband, Mike, can handle the rush working side-by-side over the hot grill.

"The last thing she does every night is clean the bathrooms and the last thing I do is mop the floors," Mike said. "And that's the way it's been for 30 years."

And in the last three decades, this place has become somewhat of a time capsule. Not just for 50's nostalgia -- but for family memories.

There's about an acre boasting picnic tables, a dance floor and a playground with plenty of stuff animals. It's appropriately named Teddybear Park.