SELIGMAN, Ariz. — An Arizona restaurant is one of just 25 businesses across the country being recognized with a large national grant for its history. The award is all about preserving the past and few do it better than the Delgadillo family.
Their family restaurant, the Snow Cap, has been awarded a $40,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Delgadillo family's roots in Seligman, Arizona, date back to the 1920s and they have made an impact that continues to be felt today.
Their story might sound familiar if you've seen the Disney movie "Cars." The movie's fictional town, Radiator Springs, was based on Seligman and the movie's creators even interviewed members of the Delgadillo family for inspiration.
Their story is about family, history and the importance of preserving both.
The story of the Snow Cap
Seligman is tucked behind the train tracks off I-40 between Flagstaff and the California state line. All it takes is one exit to transport you back in time.
Seligman is the birthplace of Route 66 and home of the longest surviving section of America's iconic road.
Synonymous with Seligman is the Snow Cap. Located right along the route, it's a fun, colorful, kitschy restaurant with a classic Americana style where John and Cecilia Delgadillo, along with their family, serve up fresh burgers and shakes and most importantly, smiles.
“My dad always told us 'put a smile on somebody's face.' When they come in, you don't know if they're having a bad day. Just put a smile on their face," said Cecilia Delgadillo.
Walking into the Delgadillo's restaurant is an experience from the moment you open the front door -- if you can figure out how to. From fake mustard to serving up a comically small drink, employees keep customers on their feet with quick-witted jokes as they place their orders.
Much like Snow Cap, many of the jokes are 70 years old and they are thanks to Juan Delgadillo, the restaurant's founder.
“We're trying to keep up his legacy," said Cecilia Delgadillo, Juan Delgadillo's daughter.
After getting out of the Army, Juan Delgadillo worked for the railroad in Seligman. Nicknamed "The Scrapper," Juan Delgadillo would take scraps of lumber to his property which he ultimately used to build Snow Cap, which opened in 1953.
At the time, Route 66 and Seligman were booming.
“There were 12 gas stations, or service stations, in Seligman, because so much traffic used to come through before the interstate," said Aerie Wolfe, Juan Delgadillo's granddaughter.
That changed in 1978. Interstate 40 opened just two miles from town, which took a major toll on communities along Route 66, like Seligman.
“It killed Route 66. And so a lot of the businesses around town just could not stay alive," Wolfe said.
But for Juan Delgadillo and his brother, Angel Delgadillo, giving up was not in their DNA.
With Route 66 barely kicking, Angel and Juan Delgadillo created the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, in an effort to preserve it.
“I remember dad saying, 'We're not going anywhere. We're gonna keep going. This is not going to stop us.' And sure enough, him and my Uncle Angel just hit it hard. They fought. They fought hard," John and Cecilia Delgadillo said.
They advocated to local, state and national lawmakers and groups and by 1987, the State of Arizona designated the road as historic, securing Seligman's future.
“If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be here," John Delgadillo said.
So the Snow Cap lived on, and Juan Delgadillo and his wife, Mary Delgadillo, lived right next door.
“When my dad would get a customer and they ordered food, my dad would ring the house phone twice. And that was her sign that there was a hamburger to be made or a hotdog to be made. And she’d come to work," Cecilia Delgadillo explained.
Juan and Mary Delgadillo have since passed away. The next generations have taken over the family business.
“Nothing changes, you know. The grill is the same and it's not a big grill. People wait for their food, but it's worth the wait. But that grill is 70 years old, you know," John Delgadillo said. "We don't like change," Cecilia Delgadillo added.
The family's hard work goes far beyond the kitchen.
Last year, they set a Guinness World Record for the largest display of milkshake varieties.
This year, their hard work was rewarded with the national grant.
“We're the only one in Arizona. So it was it was very cool. We're just so grateful for that," Cecilia Delgadillo said.
Their first order of business was to create a permanent place for Juan and Mary Delgadillo. They commissioned a mural to be painted on the restaurant in their honor.
“They're the backbone of this place," Cecilia Delgadillo said.
More updates are in the works, including a new awning and updating their iconic sign so it spins like it used to in the past.
But the foundation of the Seligman staple will stay the same.
“They just, they treat you like family," said Corinne Giesbrecht, visiting from Winnipeg. "I knew I was in for something special when I saw the sign that said, 'Sorry, we're open.' So I had no idea what to expect."
"You can really tell the passion they have for this area because they grew up here and they put their heart and soul into this place. It's paid off because it's really an experience that should not be missed," added Giesbrecht's husband, Bruce, who was celebrating his birthday.
“It makes a sunny spot in the day and it's just a wonderful stop on the route," said Linda Bondly, visiting from North Dakota.
So, the next time you're driving down the highway, try taking the long way. You might like what you find.
“We gotta keep it going. We are keeping it going," John Delgadillo said.
Snow Cap closed for the season on Nov. 17 and will reopen around March of 2024.