Photo courtesy of Baraga Drive-In This Philly cheesesteak pizza is one of the many specials from the Baraga Drive-In. Their winter menu through March features Detroit-style pizza.

Baraga Drive-In is a summer staple in the Copper Country. Famous for their burgers and frozen treats and host to classic cars throughout the season, this retro dining experience comes straight out of “American Graffiti.”

As the season changes and summer staff head back to educational pursuits, owners Rob and Beth Reynolds sought alternative offerings to drive business and provide a unique dining experience for their community. Their solution, Rob Reynolds says, was digging into his early food service experience making Detroit-style pizza.

“Back in high school, I did these pizzas where I worked at The Falls Hotel in Newberry.”

Rob makes the dough and sauce fresh every day drawing on his personal recipes.

Standard pizzas such as cheese, supreme and meat lovers remain fixed on their winter menu as well as their famous flurries, malts and shakes.

A range of specialty pizzas also crop up with the insight and creativity of the cooking staff to develop unique pizzas ranging from Philly cheesesteak to crab rangoon and even dessert pizzas.

“We wanted to stand out as different, we did crab rangoon as a special (appetizer) during the summer, and we tried that and it’s a big hit and we can’t keep it in stock,” Reynolds said.

The Reynolds have deep ties to the Baraga Drive-In, Beth’s family owned the restaurant in the 1960s and the Reynolds kids all had stints working there through high school, before Rob and Beth took over in 2017.

The Reynoldses saw an opportunity to expand their offerings through the long winter.

A tentative start last November quickly drew interest that exceeded their expectations. Reynolds recounts, “we were selling out of pizzas by 5:30 in the afternoon, but still cooking at 8 p.m.”

A trip to Milwaukee in a snowstorm last year to purchase a larger pizza oven has allowed for the Baraga Drive-In to keep up with the increasing demand.

Thursday through Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. until March, the Baraga Drive-In will offer their spin on Detroit-style pizza with their goal of serving their community.

“We serve right up to 8 o’clock, we serve the public that’s what we’re here for. We don’t turn anybody away.”

Keep up to date on all the specials and events at the Baraga Drive-In by following them on their Facebook page.