Creative Re-use

The former train station in Ames, Iowa home of Iowa State University is being turned into a new restaurant.

The Station Time Forgot

This was once the Chicago Great Western station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station replaced the so called Union Station which was across the Des Moines river on the eastbank side of Des Moines near the Iowa State Capital in 1950, but all passenger service would end by 1962. The railroad itself was merged with the Chicago & North Western in 1968 and most of its routes including the one that passed by this station have been abandoned.

The station was turned into a restaurant at some point but is not currently being used. The building is somewhat isolated although one Thomas Beck road passes the station just to the left and a multi-use trail follows the former railroad right of way.

Mother Nature Takes Over

An abandoned fast food restaurant in Vinton, Iowa.

Not so Golden anymore...

In Merrillville, Indiana just south of US Highway 30 the Golden Shrimp restaurant sits abandoned and forgotten. Apparently there was not enough people staying at the many nearby motels wanting to eat here to keep this place alive. Ironically it was the second seafood place that I encountered on this day that was closed, the other being in Joliet, Illinois also on US Highway 30. The architecture of the building gives away that this restaurant was once a Dairy Queen.

I've been abandoned...

Originally a Mission style Taco Bell, most recently a place called the Shrimp House sits abandoned on US Highway 30 on the west side of Joliet, Illinois.

Time for Ice Cream?

Dairy Treat in Nashua, Iowa.

What's your history?

Casa Del Sol formally Tastee Feeze??, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

I love looking at buildings and trying to figure out their history. I love trying to see if I can figure out how the building started out and what has happened to it over the years. What is really fun is when you find some small clue that tells you a story.

Now this building I am guessing could have been a Tastee Freeze at one time. It looks exactly like the one I grew up with in Pasadena, CA that has now something else just like this building.

New buildings just don't have a history or character that these old buildings do. Maybe in 30 years when today's buildings became scarce they will be looked at differently but right now its just hard for them to hold a candle so something that has a story to tell.

Take Five Drive In Murray Utah

Take Five Drive In Murray Utah, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

The Take Five Drive In in Murray Utah that closed a few years ago. It was a great place for burgers and shakes.

I love how the combination of the black and white with the snow on the ground. I think it gives a nice tone to the photo.

Burgers Etc Rupert Idaho

Burgers Etc Rupert Idaho, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Here is another one of those former chain restaurants turned independent. This was once a Arctic Circle which has its headquarters in Midvale, Utah.

I was traveling from Salt Lake City to Portland when I took this picture but the place was not open on Sunday's so I had to go somewhere else.

Spinners Restaurant in Rupert Idaho

Spinners Restaurant Rupert Idaho ex. Dairy Queen westside drive thru, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Always love driving through small towns along old US Highways. Rupert, Idaho is located about 5 miles north of Interstate 84 along what was US Highway 30.

Rupert is an interesting town were it appears most of the chain restaurants have closed but have been taken over by independent operations.

Here a former Dairy Queen is now a sit down restaurant but you can still see the former ordering board which now just has a company sign on it and the unused drive thru window. Surprised they have not removed the menu board and microphoen/speaker yet.

Breakfast Anyone?

Dick Clark's Restaurant, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

On my trip to Portland I had breakfast at Dick Clark's restaurant at the airport.

Back in May of last year I was on a business trip to Denver and we had lunch at the restaurant but was not impressed at all and glad I was not paying.

Breakfast was much better and last month took my wife to Breakfast here before flying to Portland again.

While having breakfast last October I took this picture of my breakfast which was the steak and eggs.

Fortunately the restaurant was pretty empty so I could take this picture in peace without anyone getting suspicious of the photographer.

Ducks and Geese walking down the sidewalk

Ducks and Geese walking down the sidewalk
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Always having your camera with you is one of the first things you learn as a photographer because you never know what you might encounter along your journey.

I attend a Toastmasters Club that is held at Anna's Restaurant in Murray at noon on Friday's. One day after I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a large group of ducks and geese walking down the sidewalk.

There is a seasonal pond plus a year around stream just to the south of the restaurant so seeing ducks and geese in the area is not unusual. What was unusual was that this group was walking down the sidewalk in single final procession better than most humans could.

They walked about a half block before stopping and resting in a grassy section next to the parking.

So remember, always carry your camera.