The Road Island Diner is a rare classic

Streamline Moderne Streamline Moderne is an international style of Art Deco architecture and design that emerged in the 1930s. Inspired by Aerodynamics, aerodynamic design, it emphasized curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements. In indu ...

60' x 16'

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

diner A diner is a type of restaurant found across the United States and Canada, as well as parts of Western Europe and Australia. Diners offer a wide range of cuisine, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a comb ...

car

restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

located in the remote mountain city of

Oakley, Utah Oakley is a city in Summit County, Utah, Summit County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City metropolitan area, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,470 at the 2010 United ...

, in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It was prefabricated as diner # 1107 in 1939 at the

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company The Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was a manufacturer of roadside diners from 1917 to 1952. The company produced some 2,000 of the long, narrow, primarily metal buildings, perhaps more than any other firm. Prefabricated ...

. After construction, it was displayed on exhibition at the

1939 World's Fair The 1939 New York World's Fair (also known as the 1939–1940 New York World's Fair) was an international exposition at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, New York, United States. The fair included exhibitions, activities ...

in New York. After the Fair, It was sold to Al McDermott who had it towed it to

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, tenth-largest city in the state, and the second- ...

, where it operated for 14 years. In 1953, it was sold to Greek immigrant Tommy Borodemos, who had it transported down the turnpike to

Middletown, Rhode Island Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,075 at the 2020 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown." History Issue ...

, where it operated for four generations as Tommy's Deluxe Diner. It closed in May 2006 and was purchased in 2007 by Utah businessman, Keith Walker, who transported it to

. After a year of restoration, it was opened in July 2008. It is said to be the only pre-war,

Art-deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920s to early 1930s, ...

streamline (constructed to mimic a rail dining car) diner west of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

. Claimed to have been the "Cadillac" of diner companies because of its steel frame construction, The Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company of

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Mickey's Diner Mickey's Dining Car is a classic diner in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Designed to resemble a railroad dining car, the prefabricated building was constructed in 1937 by the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey, ...

serial # 1067 in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

, which is the first diner to be listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, the 40' x 16' Collin's Diner serial # 1103 in North Canaan, CT and the 1938 Summit Diner in Summit, NJ. The Road Island Diner (O'Mahony Dining Car #1107) was added to the

by the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...

on August 21, 2009.

References

Cramer, Alexander (July 7 2021). Oakley's Road Island Diner closes. ''Park Record.'' Retrieved 8/2/2022. https://www.parkrecord.com/news/summit-county/oakleys-road-island-diner-closes/

External links

Road Island Diner
{{National Register of Historic Places Buildings and structures in Summit County, Utah Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Utah Diners on the National Register of Historic Places Diners in the United States Streamline Moderne architecture in Utah Tourist attractions in Summit County, Utah National Register of Historic Places in Summit County, Utah

See also

References

External links