BY DIANE SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Dairy Drive-In has been a local favorite since the 1950s and is famous for its hot dogs and milkshakes.
Established in 1958 by Portsmouth, Ohio, couples John and Della Sherman and Gene and Jean Potter, the popular drive-in at 210 E. Main Street in Inez is the oldest operating restaurant in Martin County.
According to owner Della Adams Castle, John Sherman and Gene Potter worked on the railroad in Kermit, W.Va. Their wives accompanied them on a drive through Inez and got the idea to open the restaurant, and so began Dairy Drive-In.
Castle’s mother, Mary Fannin, began working at the restaurant when she was 19 and was promoted to manager. Fannin told her employers she wanted the restaurant if they ever sold it. However, Inez residents Dick and Vonda Young had “asked first,” Castle said.
Fannin got her chance in 1991 when the Youngs decided to sell and offered it to her. She owned the business for 32 years until her passing. The restaurant was then handed down to her daughters, Della and Carly. (Carly currently resides in Alabama, where she works in forensics.)
Castle’s two daughters, Libby Adams and Gabby Adams, help her run the restaurant.
“We are a third generation of running and managing this business,” Castle said. “I couldn’t be more proud and impressed they’ve stepped up and helped during my husband Kevin’s health crisis when I needed to be away. They are a true blessing.”
Dairy Drive-In provides a certain nostalgia and charm that’s hard to find anywhere else, so Castle doesn’t try to compete with chain restaurants. Instead, she said she sticks with buying quality products to serve her customers.
“They deserve it,” said Castle, whose restaurant also rewards children for good grades.
Any student in grades K-12 who receives 100% on any test can receive a free small ice cream by bringing in the test and showing the grade.
“I started that in 2019 as a way of giving back and encouraging kids to continue to study and get a good education,” said Castle. “Mom had only an eighth-grade education but was a good businesswoman. If she had a degree, she could’ve run the world.”
Dairy Drive-In’s menu offers daily homecooked platter specials, delicious burgers, hot dogs, footlongs, fries, onion rings, chicken sandwiches, fish, shrimp, BLTs, wraps, subs, salads, club sandwiches, chuckwagons, steak sandwiches and more. Of course, it’s Dairy Drive-In, so order a milkshake, sundae, banana split or ice cream cone.