Exploring Lancaster, Oregon: A Hidden Gem on the 99e Highway

As I stepped onto the 99e highway, approximately 17 miles from Eugene, Oregon, and 97 miles from Portland, I found myself in the quaint unincorporated town of Lancaster. This charming farming community is home to a single restaurant, owned by none other than the lady who owns the town herself, accompanied by her son – the owner of the only restaurant in town. The unusual arrangement piqued my interest as we approached Junkyard Extreme Burger and Bratz.

The Restaurant's Unique Menu

Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by a vast array of mouth-watering options on the menu. As a self-proclaimed big eater with a penchant for large hamburgers and hot dogs, I knew that this was a place where I would truly indulge in something new. Craig and Kim Zumwalt, the owners, have taken their inspiration from Nashville's music industry, with Craig headed back home to open this unique eatery in 2006. The restaurant caters to big appetites, promising an exciting dining experience that is both messy and satisfying.

A Tour of the Restaurant

As we explored the premises, I spotted a small race trailer parked nearby, which was cleverly repurposed as a shed. Craig and Kim's creativity and resourcefulness are evident in every aspect of their restaurant. With only about 30 residents living in Lancaster, it is clear that this eatery plays a significant role in bringing people together.

Exploring the Junkyard Burger

I decided to take a look at some of their signature items on the menu, starting with the fried cheese pizza. I was impressed by how they create a crustless pizza using only cheese, which serves as the base for the dish. The combination of ingredients, including parmesan, cheddar onion, gorgonzola, pepperoni, and mozzarella, resulted in an explosion of flavors that left me speechless.

Cooking a Fried Cheese Pizza

Craig demonstrated how to prepare this incredible dish by expertly adding pizza sauce, grilled pineapple, and in-house pasta. The end result was nothing short of astonishing – the fried cheese held up incredibly well when topped with sliced tomatoes. What struck me most about Junkyard Extreme Burger is that their food is unlike anything you can find anywhere else; it truly stands out as a hidden gem.

Meeting Carrie

As we prepared to leave, Craig handed over my cooked pizza to a local patron named Carrie, who couldn't contain her excitement for this dish. She emphasized how addictive the fried cheese pizza is, and everyone in town wants to try it. I realized that Junkyard Extreme Burger is indeed an exceptional eatery that offers unique foods you won’t find anywhere else.

The Legacy of Craig's Car Carrier

Craig's experience with his car carrier business has undoubtedly contributed to his culinary expertise. The appreciation for bold flavors that defines the restaurant shines through in every dish, making it a standout destination along the 99e highway.

The Future of Junkyard Extreme Burger and Bratz

As I concluded my visit, I couldn’t help but feel that this eatery is destined for greatness. Its ability to bring people together and create an unforgettable dining experience speaks volumes about its impact on Lancaster, Oregon. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Junkyard Extreme Burger and Bratz is sure to leave a lasting impression.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso i'm here on the 99e highway about 17 miles from eugene oregon 97 miles from portland in this little farming community now this is an unincorporated town called lancaster and the lady that owns the town well her son happens to own the only restaurant in town now you think that's interesting wait till you see the menu this is junkyard extreme burger and bratz hey i've got a wisconsin and a chicago i'm a big eater and i like big hamburgers and big hot dogs and this is definitely it you can expect to get messy we never suffer from lack of food when we come here and that's how owners craig and kim zumwalt like it big and bold after working in nashville's music biz craig headed back home and opened this place in 06. how many people live here in lancaster probably about 30. wow is this a trailer it's a race trailer and then you built the shed on next to it yes awesome okay i've got a party in your mouth and a fried cheese pizza today i'm having the fried cheese pizza the best part is the cheese and that's what the crust is and what are we gonna make we're gonna make crustless pizza it's a fried cheese pizza to temple of health you guys should have a gym right next to this place all right let's hit it take our pineapple right over here to the grill boom we're gonna take our parmesan about like so cheddar onion a little gorgonzola all the members of the cheese family are showing up for this pepperoni throw a little mozzarella on there more cheese more cheese now we're gonna run that homemade pizza sauce right across here and a little olive now we're gonna stir on our grilled pineapple then our in-house pasta take our dome voila cooks for maybe two and a half three minutes so we're gonna top with some sliced tomatoes we're gonna cut it wow that holds up a lot better than i thought it was going to mm-hmm this right here is just a gigantic thing of that crunchy fried cheese that you love on the outside of a quesadilla the fact that you put toppings on it okay it's crazy look at that fried cheese can't beat it hey here carrie here's your fried cheese pizza it's extremely addicting you have to share it everybody wants to try it i've never seen a fried cheese pizza anywhere else junkyard is unique foods that you just can't find anywhere else this is a hidden gem i'm telling you dude we've seen some crazy stuff on triple d this is up there crazy craig the car carrier loving it very nice brother youso i'm here on the 99e highway about 17 miles from eugene oregon 97 miles from portland in this little farming community now this is an unincorporated town called lancaster and the lady that owns the town well her son happens to own the only restaurant in town now you think that's interesting wait till you see the menu this is junkyard extreme burger and bratz hey i've got a wisconsin and a chicago i'm a big eater and i like big hamburgers and big hot dogs and this is definitely it you can expect to get messy we never suffer from lack of food when we come here and that's how owners craig and kim zumwalt like it big and bold after working in nashville's music biz craig headed back home and opened this place in 06. how many people live here in lancaster probably about 30. wow is this a trailer it's a race trailer and then you built the shed on next to it yes awesome okay i've got a party in your mouth and a fried cheese pizza today i'm having the fried cheese pizza the best part is the cheese and that's what the crust is and what are we gonna make we're gonna make crustless pizza it's a fried cheese pizza to temple of health you guys should have a gym right next to this place all right let's hit it take our pineapple right over here to the grill boom we're gonna take our parmesan about like so cheddar onion a little gorgonzola all the members of the cheese family are showing up for this pepperoni throw a little mozzarella on there more cheese more cheese now we're gonna run that homemade pizza sauce right across here and a little olive now we're gonna stir on our grilled pineapple then our in-house pasta take our dome voila cooks for maybe two and a half three minutes so we're gonna top with some sliced tomatoes we're gonna cut it wow that holds up a lot better than i thought it was going to mm-hmm this right here is just a gigantic thing of that crunchy fried cheese that you love on the outside of a quesadilla the fact that you put toppings on it okay it's crazy look at that fried cheese can't beat it hey here carrie here's your fried cheese pizza it's extremely addicting you have to share it everybody wants to try it i've never seen a fried cheese pizza anywhere else junkyard is unique foods that you just can't find anywhere else this is a hidden gem i'm telling you dude we've seen some crazy stuff on triple d this is up there crazy craig the car carrier loving it very nice brother you\n"