Abandoned McDonald’s Goes Viral for Intact 1994 Drive-Thru Menu
An abandoned McDonald’s location in Alaska has gone viral after images showed its original 1994 drive-thru menu board still intact and readable. The restaurant has been closed for decades, and the menu has not been restored, altered, or staged. The footage focuses on the preserved menu board and has sparked online interest.
A Remote Location With a Very Specific History
The McDonald’s is located on Adak Island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain. During the Cold War, Adak supported a large U.S. naval base and a population of thousands. The restaurant opened in the late 1980s to serve military personnel and their families.
That changed in the early 1990s when the base was decommissioned. As residents left the island, businesses followed. The McDonald’s closed in 1994, along with much of the surrounding infrastructure.
While the building shows wear and tear, the drive-thru menu board remains upright, exposed to the elements but still legible.
Prices and Items That Stop People in Their Tracks
Most of the attention has centered on the menu itself. The prices feel especially jarring when viewed through a modern lens:
- Cheeseburgers are for $1.09
- Hamburgers are for $0.99
- Six-piece Chicken McNuggets are for $2.35
- Big Macs are for $2.45
- Egg McMuffins are for $1.95
The board also features items and promotions no longer part of the brand’s identity. Dino-Size Fries appear as a tie-in to the original Jurassic Park era, and Happy Meal toys promoted the animated series Bobby’s World. Even Sanka decaf coffee makes an appearance.