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Sno-White Drive-ins

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The Sno-White Drive-in chain was founded in Stockton, CA in the 1950s. By the mid-1960s, there were about 200 locations in California and two in Guam. I believe the locations shown here are from the early 1960s. The only remaining location that I know of that was older is the one in Madera, CA. That location was scheduled to be demolished in 2023. The last Sno-White was built in 1965.

Sno-White Drive-in
Morgan Hill, CA

2008:
2014:
The Morgan Hill location has housed La Costa Taqueria since 2010. The sign was reworked but the building remains virtually the same. Around 2022, the sign's neon was replaced with backlit plastic letters and the arrow was gone. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Aptos, CA
There is a convenience store next to the Aptos location with the same roof design (bottom photo above). There were some Dairy Queens built in Northern California with wavy roofs but that design was different. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
McFarland, CA
The McFarland location's sign was obviously replaced with a modern, plastic box sign at some point. The name has been changed from "Sno-White" to "Snow White." These photos are from 2013. By 2015, the building had been repainted blue. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Merced, CA
The Merced location now Five Star Burger. It was the Cotija Taco Shop and Karioko's Chicken before that. For more, see this website. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Lemoore, CA
The Lemoore location was built in 1965. The building now houses the White Top Drive-in. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Tracy, CA
The Tracy location was built in the mid-1960s. The building now houses a La Costa Taqueria. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Half Moon Bay, CA
This former Sno-White Drive-in now houses Taqueria La Gallina. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Taft, CA

2012:
2017:
The Taft location appeared to be closed when this photo was taken in 2012. The building had been remodeled by 2015 but was still surrounded by fencing. It had reopened by 2017. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Paradise Rd.
Modesto, CA
2014: 2022:
Both of the Sno-White Drive-ins in Modesto have flat roofs. This location was renamed Gary's Drive-in around 2009. The sign was reworked and adapted then. However, it had been changed back to Sno-White by 2012. The building now houses a Frosty King. This vintage photo shows what this location looked like previously. The fabric canopy has been replaced with an aluminum one. The building's canopy and sign have been painted blue. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Yosemite Blvd.
Modesto, CA
This Sno-White location in Modesto probably also had a fabric canopy originally. I have not seen any other Sno-White signs with angled poles like this one. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Riverbank, CA		 Sno-White
Drive-in [gone]
Stockton, CA		 former Sno-White
Drive-in
Coalinga, CA
The Riverbank location was built in the early 1960s. [map]

The Stockton sign was covered with plastic panels to protect the neon when this photo was taken in 2008. Shortly afterwards, the building was demolished and the sign was removed. A new Walgreens was built at this location.

The Coalinga location is now the Campus Drive-in. The sign was adapted for the new name. In 2009, the neon was missing from the sign and there was dull orange paint where there is now red paint. It was restored sometime before 2012. This photo is from 2014. The building is boxy-looking. For more, see this website. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Oakdale, CA

2014:
2019:
The Oakdale location's neon sign was still operating in 2007. Around 2015, the building and sign were repainted. The sign's plastic panels were replaced. The business has been closed since at least 2021. For more, see this website. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Citrus Heights, CA
This Sno-White Drive-in operated until the early 1970s. Around 1975, it became Sam's Classic Burgers. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Lodi, CA
The Lodi location opened in 1959. The building design is similar to the Sno-White in Madera, CA which was a Zesto Drive-in originally. This Lodi location may have been a Zesto as well. In 2001, there were plans to demolish the building and replace it with a larger one. However, that still hasn't happened by 2023. This photo is from 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

Sno-White Drive-in
Fresno, CA		 Sno-White Drive-in
Tulare, CA
This Sno-White Drive-in in Fresno has a flat roof and a more modern sign than the locations shown above. It may have been a Dari-Delite originally. The shape of the sign pole supports this possibility. [map]

The sign at the Sno-White Drive-in in Tulare was repainted and the remaining neon was removed sometime after 2010. These photos are from 2013. The tip of the bulb arrow has been missing for many years. For more, see this website. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
Antioch, CA
This Sno-White Drive-in now houses the Taqueria La Sierra. I believe this location was built in 1958. [map]

former Sno-White Drive-in
San Jose, CA
This Sno-White Drive-in opened around 1963. The building has housed Falafel's Drive-in since the late 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

La Costa
San Jose, CA
La Costa appears to be a former Sno-White Drive-in with a remodeled building and adapted sign. The building has housed La Costa since at least 2007. [map]

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