My family originates from the beautiful Appalachian mountains of southern West Virginia. We grew up in and/or near the small, quaint town of Pineville in Wyoming County. This little town has the quintessential courthouse, and boasts a well-known landmark — Castle Rock.

 

During the 1950’s when I was a kid, I can remember what a special treat it was to get take-out food from the Pinnacle Drive-In, where “car hops” came to take your order and deliver it to your car window. While waiting for your order (this was not fast food), there would, undoubtedly, be other people pulling up to order. Folks talked and laughed, listened to their car radios, while waiting on their meals. It was a whole other time! Sometimes I long for those days…

As we grew up some things changed, such as new schools being built or combined, and subtle little changes in the landscape around  the small towns. But nothing drastically ever changes there. And that’s a good thing, because it makes one who has moved away feel that there is such a thing as going home again.

My husband and I made a visit to WV in October 2013, and reinforced our knowledge that one thing that has never changed is the Pinnacle Drive-In. The small parking space in front, combined with the intimate chrome tables and chairs of yesteryear inside, keep customers happy. What are they so happy about, you might ask?

For one thing, the Pinnacle serves a unique sandwich that is simply listed on the menu as a “submarine.” This sandwich is unlike any other submarine, as it is always made exactly the same way every time…no cold cuts here, nosirreee! This submarine comes large or small and consists of a fine-textured turkey salad, bacon, cranberry sauce, lettuce and tomato on a French bun that has been “crisped” in hot oil. If you haven’t tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing. In addition to these outrageously delicious subs, the Pinnacle serves other menu items, of course, and one of those is their famous hot dog! Served with chili and coleslaw on a bun that is butter-toasted on both sides, makes this hot dog one of the best ever, bar none!!!

This is no joke! Folks travel from far and wide to return and reclaim these delectable memories of their youth! Whether you’re a fan of the subs or the hot dogs, you’re in “Almost Heaven,” literally, when you have one in your hand and let the tastes and smells take you back to those distant memories!

Some of my family members still live in Pineville or surrounding areas, in fact, our ancestors settled in the area and built towns there, including Pineville, Oceana and Mullens. But some of us have moved away in search of better employment and opportunities for our children. A handful of us ended up in East Texas. We like to get together every once in a while to create what we consider the equivalent of Pinnacle Drive-In subs, which we call simply “West Virginia Subs.”

One such get-together happened last week on September 26 in Jacksonville, Texas, where ten of us gathered to re-create our long, lost Pinnacle subs – our West Virginia Subs. We’ve done this enough times now, and we know how much of each ingredient we need, so we assign a list to each person. We set up an assembly station and start the creation process, down to the last detail – wrapping the subs in wax paper, complete with the toothpick sticking through it! Oh, man, we are truly transported back to those West Virginia hills that we love so well — if only for a moment in time!

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Pineville, West Virginia, do yourself a favor and pull up to the Pinnacle Drive-In and place your order – submarine or hot dog! You won’t be disappointed!

You’ll find this little eatery on Rt. 16 and Pinnacle Avenue in Pineville, WV, phone 304-732-7785. If you’re looking for an awesome, picturesque setting for a nearby vacation get-away, try Twin Falls Lodge, which is located in Twin Falls State Park just up the road.

Until next time, this is yours truly, with all my memories old and new of the Pinnacle Drive-In subs…priceless!