The Tastee Diner, back before it moved. Before it was restored, back before it became a glorified waiting area for the dining room. Back when it was still a little seedy, back when it had a soul.

7×10, pen and gouache on paper (c) Spencer Stewart 2015

Bannack was founded in 1862 after the discovery of gold, and was Montana’s first capitol in 1864. Its population slowly dwindled, finally being fully abandoned in the 1960s. Other than a few repairs, the town is more or less as it appeared, with no restoration, leaving a wonderful record of its different periods through the many layers of updates, of 1930s cardboard insulation on the walls covered in layer after layer of wallpaper. A town of textures, of ghosts of the past. It’s a great setup, where the buildings are all open to poke around inside (just please close to door behind you). I’ve never hit it at peak tourist season and have thoroughly enjoyed every experience when I’ve been there when you can appreciate its desolation.

Textures

More textures

Old cars of Weiser

Some more neat old finds from the road. Weiser, Idaho Falls, Dillon.

Like old buildings, old cars just seem to keep on going forever out here. More tomorrow.

Weiser, population 5333.

Top Row, LR: Arctic Circle (a Utah based fast food chain, founded 1950). Looks like a detailed vintage neon on a much newer building.  Cut down VW pickup. Ford bronco

Middle Row: Jim Bob’s Bakery and Magic Bowl, Naugahyde sign, empty sign frame

Bottom Row: Ron’s Custom Upholstery, Old Town Gas and Go, Salvation Army  

Livingston’s a great town. I’ll undoubtedly be doing many more posts on it sometime soon. It’s home to some of my favorite thrift shops, a great drive in restaurant, bars, a movie theater with a neat, mostly in-tact interior, and a ton of neon. It makes for a great scene at night!

The Road Island Diner
981 W Weber Canyon Rd, Oakley, UT

I missed the Road Island diner by a little bit back in my early Dinering days back when it was in Middletown, RI operating as Tommy’s Deluxe Diner. It was moved to Oakley in 2007 and I missed it again in 2008 when I came through this part of the west for the first time while roadtripping to and from the National Folk Festival for its first year in Butte, MT. I finally made it earlier this year.

The restoration is beautiful, and while there are a few touches, it plays it very straight. No Elvis, no Marilyn, no checkerboard. I think the biggest surprise to me, even after reading reviews, after following the move eight years ago and seeing reviews of it since then, was the location. Oakley is a town of just over 1500 people and nearly an hour down winding roads outside of Salt Lake. It was a destination for me, a seven hour drive south, but with its location, it really struck me as a neighborhood joint, and its move and restoration as a labor of love.