Taking one for the Team

The numerous JC Mickelson's billboards have become an I-15 icon. Mention it to anyone who drives between SLC and Fillmore and they'll know what you are talking about. The billboards clutter the highway with gross pictures, pointless (if not confusing) phrases, and an overall marketing strategy that makes anyone wonder "what were they thinking?" And yet, after years of passing them, commenting on them, and even quoting them, we finally gave in and had to check it out ourselves. It's marketing so bad, it's almost genius.

The food was much as expected...like Denny's. Nothing special, but edible...mostly. The service was great. Our tiny, blond, perpetually happy, energetic small town girl waitress who has the JC Mickelson's pot roast for dinner every Sunday with her husband, was icing on the cake (and just as sweet). The big surprise was the massive, homemade train track that runs over and around and through the restaurant. They should really market and photograph that instead of the food. It was impressive. We suggested this to our waitress in jest, but she's actually on the marketing team with JC himself (hmmm, it's all coming together now). She said there are new billboards with the trains mentioned - she quoted them. Somehow, though, the saying "come get a big burger and a caboose" doesn't send the message that the restaurant has a one-of-a-kind spectacular train display that would blow the minds of any young kid...or adult.

VERDICT: The food is not worth the 1.5 hour drive from SLC, but the service and the trains made it more enjoyable than a night out at Denny's. Now we know and you don't have to find out.

Northbound I-15 near Cove Fort

Brandon, Candace, Chad

Seriously just like the billboard picture

Fortunately these have a little more color than the ones in the billboard

You can see the track suspended from the ceiling behind him. It went through walls to other seating areas