SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Along the iconic stretch of Route 66, there’s a spot where history isn’t just remembered—it’s fried to a perfect golden brown and served on a stick.

Welcome to Cozy Dog Drive In, a Springfield landmark that’s been serving up the original corn dog (or “Cozy Dog”) since the late 1940s. Step through the door, and you’re met with the scent of sizzling batter, chatter from the counter and a sense of nostalgia that’s impossible to miss.

“It was an icon! One of the first drive-ins in Springfield back in the ‘40s,” recalled Buz Waldmire, a former owner and member of the family behind the historic restaurant.

Josh Waldmire currently carries on his grandfather’s legacy, keeping the recipes—and the rhythm—exactly the same.

“When you’ve been here that long, you just kind

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