McDonald's Erects 35-Foot Fried Apple Pie On Route 66 In Joliet For America's 250th
McDonald's is installing a 35-foot Fried Apple Pie roadside attraction on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, to celebrate the nationwide return of its classic fried apple pie menu item for America's 250th anniversary.
A 35-foot fried apple pie will stand on Route 66 in Joliet this summer. The roadside installation marks the return of a McDonald's menu item that has not been widely available in the United States for more than 30 years.
The Return Of A Classic Menu Item
McDonald's will bring back its Fried Apple Pie at participating restaurants nationwide starting June 23. The dessert features American-grown apples wrapped in a fried crust. McDonald's discontinued the fried version in 1992 and replaced it with a baked apple pie at most U.S. locations, according to the company.
Fried apple pies remained available in Hawaii and continue to be sold in other countries including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Greece, Australia and China.
"There are certain things that just take you back – and the Fried Apple Pie is one of them. It's something that people love and remember from growing up," said Eric Cochran, a McDonald's owner and operator, in a statement published by Fox News.
A Landmark On Route 66
The giant pie installation will be located at 920 N. Broadway St. in Joliet, according to McDonald's corporate website. The attraction is dubbed "The McDonald's Largest Fried Apple Pie."
The display will debut on June 23 and remain through July 4. McDonald's said the installation is part of celebrations leading up to America's 250th birthday.
A kickoff event at the site will run from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on June 23. The event will feature live music, Coca-Cola and complimentary Arch Cards, according to McDonald's.
Visitors can pick up a McDonald's souvenir map highlighting notable McDonald's locations across the country, the company said.
A Family Recipe That Became A National Staple
The Fried Apple Pie traces its roots to the 1960s, according to McDonald's. Litton Cochran, an East Tennessee owner and operator, created a fried apple hand pie that eventually became a McDonald's classic.
"When Ray Kroc was trying to come up with a dessert for McDonald's, my Grandad, Litton Cochran, suggested a Fried Apple Pie as a classic that people would love. My Grandmom, Jo Cochran, spent months perfecting the recipe," Eric Cochran said.
McDonald's USA serves millions of customers daily. Approximately 13,500 of its U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, according to McDonald's.
The Fried Apple Pie will be available as an all-day menu item at participating locations while supplies last, the company said.