Will truck drivers soon have to say good bye to another mom and pop truck stop? Maybe. The owner of the Smokey Valley Truck Stop says it’s time to retire.
The Smokey Valley Truck Stop sits at the junction of I-64 and KY 2 in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The institution has charmed diners with its down-home cooking and hospitality for more than thirty years and has even been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Dives and Drive-ins” several times.
Truck drivers and tourists, hungry for a taste of home and maybe a slice of Flannery’s famous coconut cream pie, will surely be sad if the property to see Flannery retire.
Owner Juanita Flannery told the Journal Times that the truck stop is for sale but so far doesn’t have a buyer. Flannery said that she plans to close down for the week of Christmas but is unsure of what is going to happen after that.
“I’ll be 70 years old in February and I’ve been doing this for 42 years,” Flannery told the Journal Times. “I’m looking to retire but I’d also like to help a new owner during the adjustment period.”
While the truck stop stopped selling fuel years ago, that hasn’t discouraged truck drivers from stopping by, Flannery said.
The future of the truck stop is in limbo at this point, but Flannery told the Journal that she’s hate for its legacy to end.
“I’d hate to see the place just sit empty and deteriorate.”
While the future of the truck stop may hang in limbo, one thing is for sure, the world needs a whole lot more mom and pop truck stops that offer real eggs over pre-fabricated egg patties and more owners care more about their customers than their bottom line.
And check out those biscuits and gravy. My mouth is watering.