Shenandoah Closes
 

I stopped in for breakfast at the Shenandoah Truck Stop Restaurant this morning. I was informed that they were closing at 10:00 AM due to not being able to afford to put in new fuel tanks along with some other repairs that were needed.

For those who are not familiar with the Shenandoah it is located at the 186 MM along I-70 in Ohio. It is the first exit past where I-77 intersects with I-70. The restaurant is almost circular and sits on the second floor with a very good view all around. There is a motel attached on the west side of the facility. It is a unique design and had plenty of parking. I had the western omelette for $5.99 including coffee. I hope that someone can reopen it who has deeper pockets other than someone such as Pilot. If Pilot took it over I am sure that they would knock down the building and replace it with one of their cookie cutter buildings. It is really difficult for most independents to make it competing with the big chains. I had hoped that they would be able to make a go of it.

I'm familiar with that one. I've been there. Their fuel prices were a bit high, but the food was very good, than they were closed for a few years. I noticed that just before I retired, they re-opened. Wish I had had a chance to stop in there and check out the food again.

I've only been there once, and that was just to park for the night. When I went in to use the restroom, I didn't think I'd ever find the stupid thing.

This place was mentioned in the "Which TS are you at . . " thread. It's in a great location for east bounders making their final approach to anywhere in the mid Atlantic or southern New England and west bounders working the other way. It's an attractive setting and it's unique architecture, to me, suggests it was the culmination of a successful founder's lifetime dream. For whatever reason, it went down.

I was always intrigued by it. You could tell it was a truck stop but not until you reached the top of the hill. It has an enormous sign with great reach but it was never on. Unlit, you can see it from Indiana. Lighted, you can actually see the sign from New Mexico and the space shuttle. I was pretty excited to see it on, so I skipped my plans for Amarillo and stopped in. It has a huge parking area and facilities for a truly full service operation. Unfortunately, it did appear the comeback was restrained by a shoe string budget. I walked through the entire place and everything stunk of untreated sewerage. I haven't been back since the manure tour. It would be easy enough to park there and call it good but they needed people inside spending money and I'm not surprised that didn't happen.

I wouldn't object to one of the big three . . the right pockets . . going in there and bringing it back again. It'd be nice if they stayed true to the original owners vision but I'd be happy with anything that works. It really is a good location . . HUGE parking lot.

Which is precisely why I toured the entire facility. Again, it has unique architecture.

Sure beat the little "GAS N GO" on the other side of the road from it's driveway.

That's too bad....I've been rooting for them to get it going strong again this past year.

I run that area alot but have never been there, its a shame.

Hey Mike, Petro has a breakfast buffet with soup and salad bar for 5.99....had it this morning in Youngstown.

Anytime I've been in the Youngstown area, I have always gone to TRUCK WORLD, to the "hotdog shop". They've got HOT SAUSAGE SANDWICHES that are FANTASTIC. Of all the times I've been in that area (before I retired), I think it's gotta be about 10 years since I've been in that Petro. Nothing against them, but I love those sandwiches. Of course, I've enjoyed Truck World's buffet too. Not sure I even remember how to get into Petro over there. And, the showers at Truck World are not like any other truck stop I've ever been to. Would not mind having one just like that right here at home. Sort of been trying to figure out how I can put one of them in at home.

I couldn't tell you the last time I was at that Petro. I *think* it was right after I started driving almost 10 years ago. Almost the same for Truck World. I think I was there 5 or 6 years ago.

Thanks for the tip. Petro's usually have good food. I don't think that I have tried their breakfast buffet. I don't care much for salad for breakfast. I prefer the old fashioned breakfast food that early in the morning.

Truck World is a nice truck stop. I like the way that they have the inside laid out.

In fact, now that I think about it, I think Truck World was the first truck stop I spent a night at when I started driving. I know it's pretty cool there, with a variety of shops inside.

I've driven by Shenandoah dozens of times myself, and now wish I would have stopped there.

There were a dozen or so family owned TS here and there I'd stop at, and got real fond of some of them. One was a crappy looking dump on the Michigan/Ohio border that was the best steak dinner, with quiet parking. I rarely fueled there...it was the steak, and this nice round butt, curvy, smokin' hott waitress that drove me nuts. Whenever she wasn't there, it took me several States to stop whining. :tears:

There was a French Canadian waitress on my route through Ontario that would turn me into just yer basic instincts. I don't even remember the food at all. She didn't speak much English, and with all my slobbering, I doubt I formed any words period. I think I mostly scared her, but she seemed to either like it, or I musta left her my wallet everytime I stopped. http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...nd10/shrug.gif

Roll away, oh rollin river. Shenandoah.... I long to see you!

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! :(

I loved them, got a dinner that could literaly last me 3 days for around $10. lot's of parking, etc.

Hopefully, someone with deep pockets will take it over and reopen. It would be a shame for it to remain closed.

Came past the other day and saw that they put the big concrete barrier blocks back up...

You gotta try the Blue Skys Cafe at Willies in Carls Corner, TX.

I stopped in the other day and ordered the chicken fried steak and two veggies meal (only because it was listed as Willies "favorite")...

When the waitress came around the corner with it I thought she was taking dinner to the party of four sitting behind me....

Holy crap that was a lot of food...!

I'll have to remember that, the mom and pops are my favorite places to stop for the night, sure, I fuel mostly at pilots, sure they are where I take my showers, but I just take the shower a few hours before I finish driveing and find a "Good" truck stop to rest for the night

If we want to keep the independents then we are going to have to spend our money with them. I have found that many independents have fuel prices comparable to some of the big chains unless you can get some discounts through your carrier. Food is usually less expensive and better at the independents. Parking is also usually more plentiful than at the chains. I think that we need to patronize those trucks stops where we park. If we park then we need to have a meal or buy some fuel. It is expensive to maintain these businesses. Unless these truck stops make a profit they will no longer be viable.

I agree. For those of you that get up into the northern states, I can tell you of 3 independent locations that are well worth stopping at. If you have a truck stop guide, they are listed.

Wilderness Crossing. Wittenburg, WI. Junction of US-45 and WI-29.
51 truck stop. Merrill, WI. Exit 205 hwy 51.
Abbyland Truck Stop. Curtiss, WI. WI-29, exit 127. (cnty hwy E)

All three have excellent food that would give any chain a good run for their money, including Petro. I've already mentioned Truck World in Hubbard, OH. For the Canadians, (and for Americans that cross Canada on 17), Pembroke's Big Irving at the junction of 17 and 41 had fantastic food. My wife says they have the best lemon pie in the northern hemisphere. When she was going through cancer treatment in WI, I hand carried one from Pembroke to Wausau because she started losing weight, and the medical staff told her to put it back on. It was one thing she ate that still had flavor for her.:thumbsup:

If we don't want to lose the ones that give us something memorable, we'll have to patronize them, and tell Pilot to KISS OFF!!!

other than sadlers in emporia and dunn, any sugestions in the southeast? I usualy run nc, sc, ga, al, and tn. That's your neck of the woods me thinks, gman. I did stop by TR in dandrige, tn again. I love the food and there is one waitress there that seems to remember me even though I have not been there in a while. those things mean a lot to me.

In NC, on I-85:

Exit 86, Bill's Truck Stop, Linwood
Exit 71, Derrick Truck Stop, Salisbury - they also have a new type of idleaire based thing there - the big difference is that it's 100% free (and you can back in). No tv built in, but you do get ac/heat/120v, possibly even internet access.

never tried the resturaunt in bills, seems good from the smells.

There are a few that I could suggest in Tennessee and Georgia. One that I have been stopping at for many years is Uncle Pete's in Lebanon, TN. It is at exit 239 off I-40. The food is good and I can usually find a parking spot. There is also an independent restaurant across the street that has pretty good food. You can either walk across or park at the restaurant. Parking is limited to about 6 trucks at the restaurant.

There is another truck stop at on hwy 111 off I-40. I don't recall the exit number but I believe it is about 182? You will need to pay to park unless you buy fuel, but there is plenty of parking. I usually don't park at the truck stop. There is an old Huddle House next door that has limited parking. They just changed their name and it is now an independent. I ate there right after the change and the food is pretty good. I usually only stop to eat at the restaurant. There is a boot factory outlet behind the truck stop. They seem to have good prices.

Another stop in Tennessee is Lower 40 Truck Stop. They are also off I-40 in west Tennessee between Jackson and Nashville. Again, I don't remember the exit, but the food is usually good and there is plenty of parking until it gets late.

There used to be another that I stopped at on I-24 in Murfreesboro, TN. It was called J.T.'s. Pilot bought them out and they ruined their parking lot. I believe they were at exit 82.

If you just want a meal there is a small restaurant in Wildwood, GA. I believe it is exit 269 off I-24 near Chattanooga. The restaurant is just down about 200 yards from a small Pilot on the same side of the road. Wildwood is the only Georgia exit along that short stretch of I-24. Parking is limited but the food is good. They have good barbeque. If you want to park over night I believe the property owner charges $5. The people who own the restaurant don't own the property.

Another in Georgia is Cochran's Travel Center. They are at exit 345 off I-75. The food is pretty decent and there is plenty of parking. Since they remodeled they only use plastic silverware and plates but the food is still decent. They make their own barbeque which has a different flavor, but it is also pretty good. They have good breakfasts.

There are a few more in Georgia that I can't seem to recall right now off I-75 and I-16. Perhaps I will remember later.

My suggestion would be to stop in and try an independent. Some may be crap but others may be really good stops. If they have survived for several years then they are probably pretty good truck stops. If you find one you like then post it. :thumbsup:

thanks g, I usually stop by uncle pete's even if I am not going to stop for the night. I love the food and even love his coffee cup collection, don't think anyone has that many unique cups. Never knew about the restaurant across the road. The 40 TS is probably one I'll avoid, one day I was heading down the road and I smelled the truck stop or should I say the urine in it about a mile before I got to it. Ever since I pretty much have made a promise never to stop by that one. The main thing to attract me to the independents is the food. My main routes to Decatur from hampton roads is US 58 to I-85 to I-40 to I-24 to US 72 or I go down I-95 to 20 and cut across to birmingham and up I-65. My company also has customers in lexington, ky and somewhere in Kansas as well as Wisconsin. I'm always on the lookout for good independants and obviously the chepest fuel prices. Other than cash price we don't get any discounts for fuel.

Gman can probably answer this one off the top of his head. I only stopped once at The Tennessean (spelled something like that). Good food, good parking. Edit: just found it in my book: I-65, exit 22, Cornersville, TN

Crazy Ed's, I-75, exit 56, Niota, TN

I am not sure what you are asking? I am familiar with the Tennessean. I believe that they built a Pilot at that exit. There is another truck stop in Elkton, TN at exit 6 on I-65 called Shady Lawn. They have a big chicken out front. The food is good and although they don't have a huge lot there is usually ample parking.

Funny you should mention Crazy Ed's. I stopped in a couple of days ago. They have good food in the restaurant.

Uncle Pete's is one of my favorites. The owner's wife wants him to retire and they plan to move to the Philippines. The problem is with the owner's daughter and her husband. They will take it over, but as yet I don't think the owner and his wife have the confidence that they can make a go of it. I would hate to see it close. My guess is that if they ever do turn it over to his daughter and son in law that they will lose their shirt and eventually sell out or close. I would hate to see Pilot come in and take it over. They already have a presence a couple of miles west of Uncle Pete's. The restaurant across the street is fairly small. You might give it a try sometime when you are in the area. I still prefer Uncle Pete's, but the place across the street has pretty good food and a strong local clientele.

I understand the whole turning it over to your kids problem. I've seen plenty of companies go down that way. The kids haven't had to work it from the ground up like thier mom and/or dad did so they don't take it as seriously or sometimes they don't have the aptitude for it

Some of these businesspeople have not gotten their children involved in the company at an early age so that they can learn the business from the ground up. Others only want the money. They don't want to work for it. Some of the children of these entrepreneurs have not had to work and they only want to take the money and run. I have seen that happen to a number of successful businesses over the years. You appreciate something much more when you have to work to earn it.

Arrow Trucking comes to mind.

I was saddened to see another independent bite the dust. I stopped at exit 3 on I-24 the other day hoping to get a decent meal. What I found was an empty lot and no restaurant. They have closed up. I suppose the Pilot across the freeway from them put the truck stop out of business.

You forgot to mention the Boobie Bungalow that sites on the other side of the motel...lol

If you're talking about I-24 in KY, that's been about shut down for a couple of years now. The restaurant has not been there for some time, and when I found out about that, I stopped in there, hoping to eat there. There had also been a Mexican restaurant that has been closed up even longer. And, YES, I do believe Pilot is to blame. They simply could not compete.

I don't recall the Boobie Bungalow. I only stopped there for a decent meal and a place to sleep for the night.