The missus and I are hard pressed to remember the last time we stopped at a Stuckeys?

What ever happened to them?

What'sa matter? No urge for a pecan log lately?

Actually I saw one not that long ago, but I forget exactly where it was. Indiana or Ohio, maybe?

The Stuckey's I remember most was in my youth, on Route 17 in Ridgeland, SC, before Route 80 went through there.

Twenty years ago, I bet there were 20 Stuckey's between Houston and New Orleans. Now there's just one that I know of. They still the same corny souvenirs (thimbles from every state) and those wonderful pecan logs, but it's not the same. Times change, I guess.

Stuckey's was the Cracker Barrel of it's day.

John don't you think that was more like 30 years ago...I sure would like to stop in and buy one of those pecan logs. Tacky can be fun.

I proposed to my wife at a Stuckey's over a pecan nut roll just outside of Savannah. She said yes to the roll and yes to me. We went back their for our anniversary every year until they closed it down in the early '90s. Now we go to the Bob Evans.

The Stuckey family branched out into the timber business & their restaurants went to the wayside. What used to be the Stuckey's (in the birthplace of Stuckey's - Eastman - and where I lived for 7 years) is now called the Middle Geogia Buffet. There are about 100 of the original Stuckey's stores still open. However! A rebirth of Stuckey's is underway. Bill Stuckey Jr. bought the franchise about 10 years ago, and as an owner of all franchise rights to any Dairy Queen within a 1/2 mi. of an interstate, he began by opening Dairy Queen-Stuckey's stores, as well as the new "Stuckey's Express", which allows convenience stores a chance for notoriety via their own miniature version of Stuckey's, including the famous Pecan Log.

More Stuckey's trivia than you wanted to shake a Pecan Log at, right?

Who can forget Stuckey's?

I still see them on my way to and from Florida, the state which still has the most in operation.

The last time I stopped was at one of the new "express" ones because I wanted to pick up some Goo Goo Clusters for coworkers. They also sell some fantastic peanut brittle!

There's no denying they are kitchy but they're fun!

For a little Stuckey's nostalgia, visit:

www.stuckonstuckeys.com

Stuckeys was severely wounded by Interstate 95 in the east. Route 301 is littered with boarded up Stuckeys.

Kristina, thanks for the update. I have seen those Stuckeys/Dairy Queen combos in southern Mississippi.

found on the internetc can't vouch for authenticity or taste.
STUCKEY'S PECAN LOG ROLLS

1/4 C. corn syrup
1/4 C. water
1 1/4 C. sugar
1 egg white
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (14 oz.) pkg. caramels
3 T. water
2 C. coarsely chopped pecans

Line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with buttered wax paper; set aside.

Combine corn syrup, water and sugar in small heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Wash down side of pan with pastry brush dipped in hot water frequently, to remove sugar crystals. Add candy thermometer. Continue to cook until mixture reaches the hard-ball stage (255ºF).

Meanwhile, beat egg white and cream of tartar with heavy duty electric mixer, until stiff but not dry. Slowly pour hot syrup into egg white, beating constantly. Add vanilla extract. Beat until candy forms soft peaks and starts to lose its gloss. Spoon fondant into prepared pan. Cut into three strips lengthwise, then crosswise in center. Freeze until firm.

Line a baking sheet with wax paper, set aside. Melt caramels with water in small heavy saucepan, over low heat, stirring occasionally. Arrange pecans on wax paper. Working quickly, drop 1 piece of the frozen fondant into melted caramels to coat. Roll in pecans to completely coat. Place on prepared baking sheet to set. Repeat with remaining fondant pieces, reheating caramel mixture if it becomes too thick. Cut logs into 1/2-inch slices. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container between layers of wax paper or freeze up to 3 months. Makes six 5-inch rolls.

There may still be a Stucky's on the way to Palm Springs (Indian Wells?), where the dinosaurs are located (as seen in Pee Wee's Great Adventure). This Stucky's always had great date shakes.

DATE SHAKE I

The Date Shake first appeared at the National Date Festival in 1947. By 1948 the Date Shake was being sold at concession stands all over the grounds. This is the most popular drink served at the festival in Indio, California.

6 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 C. pitted dates
1 C. milk

Put ice cream in blender and whirl until liquefied. Add dates and blend until finely chopped. Add milk and blend again. Serves 3.

D.B.--that is a Hadley's. Far as I know it has always been a Hadley's. It is in Cabezon on I-10 on the way into the Palm Springs area. Great date shakes.

I was at first upset by their incredibly slow service, which seemed to be part of the corporate culture at every one of their restaurants. After awhile, it became kind of funny.

We still have one here in Toano, VA outside of Williamsburg on 64. There is also one on the eastern shore. The pecan logs are too sweet but I love the knick-nacks.

Yep, Hadley's. I think it was originally a Stuckey's, and was out of business for awhile and then reopened. Said Indian Wells because I couldn't remember Cabazon, but did remember the big sign saying INDIAN BINGO.